By Lily Waddell and Ciara Farmer For Mailonline
Published: 13:50 GMT, 28 January 2018 | Updated: 13:55 GMT, 28 January 2018
He is locked in a bitter £5.5 billion divorce battle with his ex Petra Ecclestone.
And James Stunt put the drama behind him when he headed to the Chiltern Fire House, in London on Friday following the latest High Court hearing earlier in the day.
The ex of the Formula One heiress, 36, was flanked by an army of bodyguards as he mingled on the party scene.
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Pulling a Stunt? Petra Ecclestone's ex James is flanked by an ARMY of bodyguards on night out where he 'risks bumping into Formula One heiress' as divorce battle rumbles on
The security guards looked fierce as they stood tall huddled around the billionaire when he popped outside the venue for a cigarette.
James kept the chill at bay in a cream knitted jumper when he braved the freezing temperatures in the evening in the British capital.
Dressed for the occasion, the businessman stepped out in a smart blazer teamed with straight-legged trousers.
He was said to have risked bumping into Petra, 29, when she enjoyed a night out with her sister Tamara, brother-in-law Jay Rutland and her new rumoured beau Sam Palmer.
The heiresses were reportedly due to head to C London restaurant yet they are said to have rearranged their trip after discovering James was set to be there where he was seen partying with a bevy of beauties.
Moving on: Petra's ex put the divorce battle drama behind him when he headed to the Chiltern Fire House, in London on Friday following the latest High Court hearing earlier in the day
Petra's rumoured new flame is a luxury used car salesman who was first photographed with Petra in November weeks after her acrimonious £5.5bn divorce from bullion dealer James.
Sam, 34, from Harlow, in Essex, is thought to have been introduced to the mother-of-three by his close friend Jay. He has grown close to Petra in recent months and late last year he enjoyed a sunshine break to Dubai with Petra, Tamara and Jay.
The handsome suitor, an electrician turned car dealer, who also worked as a recruitment consultant in Australia, features extensively on Jay's Instagram.
He was cutting a dashing figure as he joined Petra and his good pal on the night on the town where they were undoubtedly happy to dodge James.
A representative for Petra declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.
On Friday, James was seen clutching a bizarre walkie-talkie device when he headed outside for a cigarette during his night at the plush eatery. Petra's former flame put the divorce battle out of mind on his night out as he was in high spirits for the night out.
Troubles ahead: Petra Ecclestone, 29, risked being faced with her estranged husband James Stunt, 36, as she enjoyed a night out with her sister Tamara, brother-in-law Jay Rutland and rumoured new flame Sam Palmer
Earlier on Friday, James joined his ex-wife Petra at a High Court hearing in Holborn, London for the latest stage of their divorce. Bernie Ecclestone's daughter and the billionaire are locked in a legal fight over their joint £5.5 billion fortune.
James filed for divorce from Petra following a bitter court battle in October but the pair are yet to agree on a settlement over their joint fortune.
The heiress forced her ex to leave their lavish £68 million Grade II-listed mansion in Chelsea when she took out a court injunction.
Former flames James and Petra were married in a romantic ceremony in happier times back in 2011.
The ex-couple share three children: four-year-old Lavinia as well as two-year-old James and Andrew.
Standing together: The security guards looked fierce as they stood tall huddled around the billionaire when he popped outside the venue for a cigarette
Baroness Fiona Shackleton, who previously acted on behalf of Sir Paul McCartney during his divorce with Heather Mills, is representing Petra.
This comes amid her billionaire ex-husband James reacting angrily to cynical claims that a £90 million burglary at his home was a con.
He had previously claimed that he was the victim of Britain's biggest ever burglary with £90million of cash and valuables.
The plush items were said to have been stolen from his house in Belgravia, which he moved into after the pair split.
On Monday, James slammed critics who have accused the burglary of being a fake.
He said: 'I've nothing to hide. I'm a victim with no upside to this embarrassment of having no insurance.
'It's disgusting how people are commenting that I'm a criminal. It's not true or fair. I just want whoever did this arrested and my things back.
James told police that thieves had emptied the safe in the basement of his Georgian townhouse in Belgravia in December as he slept upstairs.
Cash, gold and diamond jewellery worth up to £90million was stolen in the raid, according to The Sun on Sunday.
The missing items are said to include Audemars Piguet watches worth up to £500,000 each, including the one that belonged to his late brother, Lee.
Other items taken include pink, yellow, white and blue diamond rings, as well as cash, gold bars and his passport.
Asked what the latest update was on the investigation, James said: 'You will have to talk to the Flying Squad. I have no insurance. I'm a victim.
Going strong: The ex of the Formula One heiress, 36, was flanked by an army of bodyguards as he mingled on the party scene
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