The son of a London nightclub tycoon who is said to have bought the title Lord of the Manor of Hollesley appeared in court today charged with his murder.

David West, 44, of Jermyn Street, central London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of his father, also called David West.

The body of Mr West, 70, was found at a residential address - believed to be his home - in Ormond Yard behind Jermyn Street, near Piccadilly, on Friday night.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a single stab wound.

Mr West was a self-styled lord who reportedly owned the nightclub Hey Jo, as well as Abracadabra, a restaurant which specialises in Russian cuisine. Both are located close to his home.

He has been described as a flamboyant figure and is understood to have bought the title of Lord of the Manor of Hollesley on eBay in 2006 after bidding began at £46,000.

He made his fortune selling alcohol from a Calais warehouse called Eastenders, having started in business selling flowers and groceries from a stall in Romford market in east London.

In 2007 he made headlines after he hired Cherie Blair to mount a legal challenge against the smoking ban.

District judge Margot Coleman referred the case to Old Bailey, where it will be heard on Wednesday.