Restaurateur Found Guilty of Drink Spiking at Prestigious London Club
Vikas Nath, a 63-year-old restaurateur, has been convicted of spiking a woman's drink at Annabel's, an exclusive private members club located in the heart of central London. The incident occurred in the rooftop garden bar, where Nath laced the victim's spicy margarita with gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), a Class B drug, after she briefly left the drink unattended.
Swift Intervention by Club Staff
Alert staff at Annabel's observed Nath using a straw to administer the GBL into the beverage and immediately intervened, preventing the woman from consuming the spiked drink. This quick action likely averted serious harm, highlighting the importance of vigilance in such establishments.
Prosecution's Case and Court Verdict
Prosecutors argued that Nath intended to drug the woman to facilitate taking her back to his home for sexual purposes. Evidence presented in court included details of a motion sensor-activated camera pointed at his bed, suggesting premeditation. After a trial at Southwark Crown Court, a jury found Nath guilty of attempting to administer a substance with intent and possession of a Class B drug.
The conviction underscores ongoing concerns about drink spiking in social settings and the critical role of staff awareness in preventing such crimes. Authorities have emphasized the seriousness of this offense, with sentencing expected to follow in the coming weeks.
