Life Imprisonment for Christmas Day West End Rampage Driver
A motorist who killed one man and injured several others during a violent, alcohol-fuelled rampage through London's West End on Christmas Day has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Anthony Gilheaney, aged 32, received a minimum term of 37 years for launching a series of brutal attacks against five individuals in the early hours of December 25, 2024.
Fatal Attack and Multiple Assaults
The court heard how Gilheaney used his high-powered Mercedes to strike and kill 25-year-old Aidan Chapman. He also deliberately drove at Arif Khan, knocking him to the ground before exiting his vehicle to physically assault him. Prosecutors alleged that Gilheaney targeted victims for racist and homophobic reasons, using racial slurs during the attacks.
Further victims included Marcelo Basbus-Garcia and his partner Miguel Waihrich, who were walking hand-in-hand after attending midnight mass, along with Tyrone Itorho, a friend of Mr Chapman. Jurors found Gilheaney guilty of murdering Mr Chapman, attempting to murder Dr Basbus-Garcia and Mr Itorho, and wounding Mr Khan with intent.
Court Sentencing and Victim Impact
Sentencing Gilheaney at the Old Bailey on Friday, Mrs Justice McGowan emphasised the profound loss suffered by Mr Chapman's family and friends. She stated that 'Aidan Chapman's death is at the centre of these proceedings and the loss to his family and friends is at the front of the court's mind.'
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Chapman's mother Yasemin Akcakoca described her son as 'funny, caring, and full of life'. His father Darren Chapman called Gilheaney 'a monster' who had shown no remorse for his actions. The court heard how Mr Chapman suffered catastrophic brain damage and died in hospital on New Year's Eve.
Violent Sequence of Events
The trial revealed that Gilheaney left a nightclub in the early hours of Christmas Day and became involved in an argument with a stranger. He proceeded to punch another individual and attacked Hardeep Singh, a Sikh man, without provocation on Shaftesbury Avenue.
After getting into his car, Gilheaney shouted abuse at Mr Khan before driving forward and reversing to knock him down. He then exited the vehicle to attack Mr Khan on the ground. When Mr Singh returned with friends and intervened, Gilheaney rammed an Uber vehicle before driving erratically along the street, mounting pavements and causing pedestrians to flee in panic.
Aftermath and Police Chase
Following the attacks, police spotted Gilheaney's erratic driving and initiated a pursuit. The defendant eventually jumped from his moving car, allowing it to crash into a signpost. Officers later found him unconscious in Lincoln's Inn Fields in Holborn.
Initially tearful and apologetic at the scene, telling officers 'I hold my hands up, I don't care... I am sorry for everything I have ever done', Gilheaney later claimed during formal interviews that he could not remember the events or identify himself on CCTV footage.
Defence Claims and Previous History
Gilheaney told the jury he had consumed up to six cans of a vodka cocktail mix before arriving at a bar that evening and admitted to previously driving while 'tipsy'. He claimed a friend had spiked his vape with cannabis while in the club, which made him angry, and that he was searching for his pregnant girlfriend when the incidents occurred.
The court heard that Gilheaney, who has never held a driving licence but told the court he has 'always' enjoyed driving powerful cars, has a 'shocking' motoring history including dangerous driving. He used false number plates to avoid detection and has 40 previous convictions dating back to when he was 14 years old.
Judge's Remarks and Additional Penalties
Mrs Justice McGowan acknowledged Gilheaney's 'difficult upbringing' but rejected defence suggestions that his use of racist language did not indicate racist attitudes, stating 'He holds deeply racist attitudes towards Asian members of the public.'
The 37-year minimum term incorporates three charges to which Gilheaney previously pleaded guilty: dangerous driving, causing death by driving while disqualified, and possession of a bladed article. He has also been disqualified from driving for life.
Following the sentencing, Mrs Justice McGowan thanked the families of the deceased and other victims, acknowledging the terrifying nature of the incident that has permanently altered multiple lives.
