While Charles Saatchi originally defended the images showing his violent nature towards wife Nigella Lawson. Now Saatchi is admitting he did indeed assault the famed television judge and chef.

As TheCelebrityCafe.com reported earlier, Lawson was caught being assaulted by her husband at a London restaurant on June 9th. The incident left the 53 year old clearly shaken up and in tears.

According to People, the 70-year-old was interviewed by British police for five hours regarding the fight after the pictures went viral. After admitting his guilt, he received a police citation from London officers, referred to as caution.

Saatchi's initial reaction to the physical altercation going public was to refer to it as "playful tiff," acknowledging that his hands were in fact around Lawson's neck, but that he lacked a tight grip. He also noted that the photos made the incident appear worse than it actually was. After turning himself into the police, however, his tune had changed. Saatchi spoke with London's Evening Standard about the fight that left Lawson leaving solo in tears: "Although Nigella made no complaint, I volunteered to go to Charing Cross station and take a police caution after a discussion with my lawyer because I thought it was better than the alternative of this hanging over us all for months."

Lawson and the art collector married in 2003. Saatchi has one child from a previous marriage; Lawson has two children with her late husband, journalist John Diamond.