GORDON RAMSAY is to be sued for “malicious falsehood” by Marco Pierre White after confessing that he cooked up a plot to blacken his former mentor’s name, writes Dipesh Gadher.

Ramsay admitted last week that he faked the theft of the reservations book at Aubergine, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and blamed White because he feared that his rival was about to take his job as head chef.

Suspicion over the 1998 theft has dogged White ever since and he now plans to bring civil proceedings against his former student. He is also consideringa libel action because Ramsay pointed the finger at him again in his autobiography last year.

A friend of White’s said: “Gordon is constantly behaving likea playground bully and it’s about time that somebody stood up to him.” White’s lawyers are expected to write to Ramsay within a fortnight.

The culprit behind the theft of the reservations book had remained a mystery for nine years. Aubergine, a fashionable restaurant in Chelsea, had a six-month waiting list and, because bookings were not computerised, its disappearance could have caused chaos.

But last week Ramsay told The New Yorker magazine that he hired a motorcycle courier to stage the robbery, believing it would scupper White’s chances of deposing him.

“I nicked it,” said Ramsay. “I blamed Marco. Because I knew that would f*** him and that it would call off the dogs. I still have the book in a safe at home.

“It was my one stroke of genius, f****** somebody over without his knowing that I was the one who done it. You always eat that f****** revenge when it’s cold, don’t you? Trust me, this was stone cold.”

White’s lawyer, Richard Green of the solicitors Hill Dickinson said: “We are pursuing appropriate action on behalf of Marco.”

If the case goes to court, Ramsay could be sued for more than £50,000. That sum, however, may be just a trifle to the chef, whose fortune is estimated at £60m.

Scotland Yard has decided not to reopen the original investigation into the theft, nor is Ramsay expected to be questioned for wasting police time. Ramsay and White were unavailable for comment last night.

Explore Food & Drink

• Gordon Ramsay

• Heston Blumenthal

• Recipes

• Wine

• Real Food

• Anjum Anand

• Eating Out

• Video Recipes

Times Recommends

• How to season a wok
• Chicago Rib Shack hits back at its critics
• Gordon Ramsay: Indian barbecue