The multi-millionaire businessman from Hendon who sued a senior rabbi for slander for allegedly spreading lies about him as a 'sexual predator' lost his case on Friday.

Brian Maccaba, 45, of Brampton Grove, accused the rabbi of spreading 'poisonous' slurs about him being a 'sexual predator' and 'serial adulterer' in what has turned out to be the longest slander case in English legal history.

Dayan Yaakov Lichtenstein, 49, denied slandering Mr Maccaba, who is the chief executive of technology company Cognotec, in the Jewish Orthodox community.

And after nearly 32 hours of deliberations, the jury in the High Court returned a verdict against Mr Maccaba.

In a case which has had overtones of the Hollywood film Indecent Proposal, starring Robert Redford and Demi Moore, the defence had claimed Mr Maccaba had offered Alain Attar US$1million for his wife Nathalie, and sexually harassed her twice.

Nathalie Attar said in a statement: "I am delighted for Dayan Lichtenstein at the outcome of this case.

"The Dayan (religious judge) was the only person who stood up for me and my family and I am sorry that he had to go through such a difficult time because of it.

"My husband and I are happy that this hard time is now over for us. We look forward to focusing on our future. We are pleased that justice has been done."

Dublin-born Mr Maccaba was born Brian McCabe as a Roman Catholic and converted to Judaism in 1990 after a previous marriage. He now faces paying more than £2million in costs.