A driver left a "trail of carnage" after deliberately mowing down pedestrians in London's West End during a series of violent, drink-fuelled attacks on Christmas Day, the Old Bailey heard this week.
A Night of Unprovoked Violence
The court was told that Anthony Gilheaney, 30, left a nightclub in the early hours of Christmas Day 2024. He was "beside himself with rage" when he launched a spree of unprovoked assaults around Shaftesbury Avenue. Prosecutors stated his actions were motivated by racism and homophobia.
Gilheaney struck five pedestrians with his car. One victim, Aidan Chapman, 25, suffered fatal brain injuries and died in hospital on New Year's Eve. Opening the case, prosecutor Crispin Aylett KC said the defendant's behaviour created a scene of devastation. "It is tempting to view the defendant's behaviour as inexplicable. In truth, however, it is not," he told jurors.
The Sequence of Attacks
The rampage began after Gilheaney, who was drunk, left the nightclub. He got into an argument, punched a stranger, and attacked a Sikh man, Hardeep Singh, without provocation. He then got into his car and began shouting racist abuse at another man, Arif Khan, in Archer Street.
When Mr Khan confronted him, Gilheaney drove at him, knocking him down. He then got out and physically assaulted Mr Khan, throwing him to the ground and kicking him. A group of friends, including Mr Singh, then intervened and fought back against Gilheaney.
An Uber driver, Hasan Mashood, captured the incident on his dash-cam. Gilheaney then deliberately reversed his car into Mr Mashood's vehicle twice in another unprovoked attack.
Targeting Pedestrians with a Car
The prosecutor stated that Gilheaney, "by now beside himself with rage," then targeted pedestrians in Great Windmill Street. He drove up and down, mounting the kerb and causing people to flee. His attention turned to two men, Marcelo Basbus-Garcia and Miguel Waihrich, who were holding hands after attending Midnight Mass.
As the couple tried to cross the road to escape, Gilheaney drove at them, knocking one to the ground. When the other bent down to help, Gilheaney deliberately drove at him too.
The final and fatal collision occurred on Shaftesbury Avenue. Aidan Chapman and his friend Tyrone Itorho were crossing the road when Gilheaney "suddenly careered onto the other side of the road." Mr Chapman was hit full force, thrown into the air, and suffered catastrophic injuries.
In total, six people – the five pedestrians and the Uber driver – were taken to hospital as a result of Gilheaney's actions that night.
Aftermath and Arrest
Following the attacks, police spotted Gilheaney's car being driven erratically and gave chase. He eventually jumped from the moving vehicle, letting it crash into a signpost. Officers later found him passed out in Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn.
At the scene, Gilheaney was tearful and apologetic, telling an officer, "I hold my hands up... I will admit to everything. I am guilty." He blamed his actions on the death of his brother from a cocaine overdose 18 months earlier. However, in later police interviews, he claimed he could not remember the events or identify himself in CCTV footage.
Anthony Gilheaney denies one count of murder, one count of wounding with intent, three counts of attempted murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. He has already admitted to dangerous driving. The trial continues.
