Mr Black, an Oscar winner who married the Olympic champion diver in 2017, is charged with assaulting BBC Three presenter Teddy Edwardes in Soho on 18 August last year.

The American filmmaker, 49, was due to stand trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Tuesday but the case was adjourned and rescheduled to a later date because of missing evidence.

Mr Black pleaded not guilty to the single charge at a preliminary hearing in the same court in April.

Prosecutor Adrita Ahmed said there was an "altercation in a nightclub" and Mr Black "grabbed Ms Edwardes' wrist and twisted it", causing a drink to spill on her.

She said that "as a result Ms Edwardes has retaliated" and was subsequently cautioned by police for "going too far in self-defence".

Outlining the defence case, Helena Duong, representing Mr Black, said he "described Ms Edwardes effectively shouting at him and being aggressive".

"What you can see on CCTV is immediately, at the very beginning, Mr Black trying to walk away, I think that much is clear," Ms Duong said.

The defence added: "She turns to him, appears to reach out in a way.

"And then there's an exchange between them in which she continues to be aggressive and shouts at him, and he reacts to that and then she makes a movement, gesticulating, which is what causes Mr Black to reach for the glass."

Ms Duong said Ms Edwardes was later cautioned for "punching him in the back of the head afterwards" as Mr Black left the nightclub.

CCTV footage played in court showed Mr Daley, 29, and Mr Black in the nightclub before the incident unfolded.

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said Mr Black's alleged offence would fall in the "lowest category" of the sentencing guidelines if he is convicted, adding: "The Crown's case is no more than he grabbed the wrist."

Mr Black gave his address as Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, and his lawyers said he had flown over for the trial.

The chief magistrate was told the tape of Ms Edwardes' police interview had been lost and there is no transcript. A statement has not yet been taken from the officer who conducted her interview.

The trial was adjourned and rescheduled for 8 November.

Mr Black won an Oscar in 2009 for best original screenplay for Milk, a film based on the life of gay rights activist and politician, Harvey Milk.

He also wrote the 2011 film J Edgar starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer, and directed by Clint Eastwood.

Ms Edwardes is an LGBTQ+ party planner and co-host of the BBC Three show Big Proud Party Agency.