A prominent Michelin-starred restaurant boss has been accused of betraying a woman's trust by allegedly spiking her drink with a date-rape drug at an exclusive private members' club in London's Mayfair, Southwark Crown Court has heard.
Alleged Spiking Incident at Annabel's
Vikas Nath, 63, who operates a portfolio of high-end restaurants in both the UK and Spain, is accused of using a straw to administer gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) into the woman's spicy margarita while they were seated in the rooftop garden bar of the prestigious Annabel's club on January 15, 2024. The alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told jurors she felt profoundly "betrayed" by Nath's actions.
Warning About Drink Spiking Days Before
Remarkably, just days before the alleged incident, Nath had warned the woman about the dangers of drink spiking. The court heard that during their attendance at Annabel's on January 10, 2024, followed by a visit to what the woman described as "a really dodgy club" called Cirque Le Soir, Nath expressed concern about someone potentially spiking her drink.
The next morning, the woman texted Nath saying, "I don't think I will be drinking today." He replied, "I think you should drink, but be aware of people around you. My biggest concern last night was someone spiking your drink."
Established Pattern of Behaviour
The woman testified that she had met Nath approximately six times prior to the alleged spiking incident, usually for lunches at upscale venues including the five-star Beaverbrook Town House hotel and Nath's own Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant, Benares. She noted that Nath "always paid" for their meals and was "very generous," and that she had become accustomed to seeing him test drinks with "a little straw" during their meetings.
"I always found it quite strange, he would put a little straw in to try it," she told the court. "He was affirming it was of high quality, he would test it with a straw and take a drink of it. I became acclimatised to seeing him doing it."
Vigilant Staff Intervention
On the day of the alleged incident, observant staff at Annabel's noticed Nath dipping a straw into a small Madagascan vanilla extract bottle he had retrieved from his pocket, sucking up liquid before transferring it to the margarita. Alerted to their concerns, staff managed to switch the potentially drugged drink for a fresh one before the woman could consume it.
The court heard that when police were called, Nath allegedly disposed of the GBL bottle by throwing it into a toilet cistern. The woman, who had been an Annabel's member since age 18, was approached by staff who expressed concern about what they had witnessed.
Initial Disbelief and Defence of Nath
Despite the evidence, the alleged victim initially struggled to accept what had happened. "I remember vividly defending Mr Nath, saying 'There is no way he could do that'," she testified. "I remember sending him a message saying 'I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening'. Because I felt it was my fault. I didn't want him in trouble, I didn't believe it."
Background of Their Relationship
The woman explained that she met Nath while navigating a divorce and family turmoil, including what she described as "a very big falling out with my father." During their first meeting, Nath presented her and her friend with a bottle of Jo Malone perfume, remarking that "it is what his mother likes."
She described their relationship as platonic, stating, "He came across as he cared for me and it was nice. I never thought he would have made a physical move on me so I felt safe with him. He never spoke of anything of a sexual nature." When questioned by the defence about whether Nath knew about her boyfriend, she confirmed he was aware but she didn't speak about him often.
Nath's Admission and Defence
While Nath admitted to spiking the drink, he claimed his intention was to "relax" the woman rather than as part of a plan to engage in sexual activity. He has pleaded not guilty to attempting to administer a substance with intent and possession of a Class B drug.
The trial continues as the court examines the complex dynamics of their relationship and the circumstances surrounding the alleged spiking incident at one of London's most exclusive private members' clubs.
