Donald Trump has been served with legal papers at his Scottish businesses in an extraordinary battle with a former British spy.

The Mail has learned sheriff officers were sent to Trump Turnberry in Ayrshire and the U.S. President’s Menie golf course in Aberdeenshire.

The dispute relates to ex-MI6 agent Christopher Steele, who claimed in an incendiary dossier that Russia possessed compromising sexual material relating to the President, which Mr Trump denies.

Mr Steele was awarded more than £600,000 in costs against Mr Trump after the tycoon’s unsuccessful attempt to sue him over what he insisted were ‘shocking and scandalous’ false claims.

The costs, which were awarded to Mr Steele’s company, Orbis Business Intelligence, at a High Court hearing in April, have yet to be paid – and are rising daily.

They will have increased by a further £2,000 by the time Mr Trump touches down in London for his State visit later this month.

The legal papers were served on Mr Trump on Tuesday – while John Swinney was in the U.S. to meet Mr Trump for talks on Scotch whisky tariffs.

Commenting on the move, an Orbis spokesman told the Mail: ‘The British legal system has demonstrated that, in this country at least, no-one is above the law.

‘We are nevertheless concerned that Donald Trump continues to be in breach of the English High Court and are alarmed by the outrageous costs of this vexatious case in wasted time and money, both for Orbis Business Intelligence and the UK courts.’

It is understood Orbis is seeking an ‘arrestment’ order from the courts which would prevent Mr Trump’s company in Scotland paying out dividends to shareholders.

Mr Trump may argue that he enjoys Presidential immunity – but Orbis will claim that he was not President when the dispute over Mr Steele’s allegations happened.

The President’s lawyers now have a month to respond to the papers served on Tuesday.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are hosting the President and his wife, Melania, at Windsor Castle between September 17 and 19, with a State banquet as the glittering centrepiece.

The Commons will be in recess at the time, neatly avoiding the controversy which would likely have been sparked by Mr Trump addressing Parliament.

The Steele dossier, produced for Mr Trump’s defeated Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, became one of the most controversial aspects of the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election which led to a probe by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Hugh Tomlinson KC, representing the President, argued that Mr Trump ‘suffered personal and reputational damage and distress’ over claims in the dossier that he had taken part in sex parties in St Petersburg and had consorted with sex workers in Moscow.

Mr Tomlinson insisted the claims about the personal conduct of Mr Trump were false, as were allegations that he had paid bribes to Russian officials to further his business interests.

He described the allegations in the memos – which also included a claim the 79-year-old had ‘defiled’ a bed previously used by former president Barack Obama and his wife – as ‘egregiously inaccurate’.

Orbis Business Intelligence succeeded in having the lawsuit thrown out after arguing that the report had never been meant to be made public and was published by the media without permission.

Mr Trump brought up the subject of Mr Steele during a press conference during an informal visit to the UK in July.

A Government insider told the Scottish Mail on Sunday at the weekend: ‘Trump still hasn’t abided by the court order.

‘And our understanding is when he sets foot on British soil, he could be open to some form of fresh legal challenge.

‘The whole thing could turn into a diplomatic nightmare.’

A spokesman for Mr Trump’s hotels and golf courses in Scotland said: ‘This matter has no connection whatsoever to Trump Turnberry or Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire.

‘The issue is being addressed by our legal counsel in the U.S.’

The Trump Organisation in the U.S. was contacted for comment.