Life Sentence for Christmas Day Rampage Driver
A drunk driver who murdered a man and deliberately targeted multiple victims during a Christmas Day car rampage in London's West End has been jailed for life. Anthony Gilheaney, 32, was handed a minimum sentence of 37 years at the Old Bailey today for a series of unprovoked attacks that left a "trail of carnage" in the early hours of December 25, 2024.
A Deadly Spree of Violence
Gilheaney's rampage began when he left a nightclub and started attacking strangers, including punching one man and assaulting Hardeep Singh, a Sikh man, without provocation on Shaftesbury Avenue. The situation escalated when he got into his Mercedes and began shouting racist abuse at Arif Khan, calling him a racial slur before deliberately driving at him, knocking him to the ground, and then physically attacking him.
The court heard that Gilheaney then drove "like a maniac" through the West End, deliberately targeting pedestrians. He drove at Marcelo Basbus-Garcia and his partner Miguel Waihrich, who were walking hand-in-hand after attending midnight mass, in what prosecutors described as a homophobic attack. Further along Shaftesbury Avenue, he deliberately drove into 25-year-old Aidan Chapman and his friend Tyrone Itorho.
Fatal Consequences and Family Anguish
Aidan Chapman suffered catastrophic brain injuries when he was hit full-on by Gilheaney's vehicle and died in hospital on New Year's Eve. Following the sentencing, Mr Chapman's family released a heartbreaking statement describing their unimaginable loss.
"No parent should have to go through the hellish trauma of losing a child," they said. "Words cannot describe the pain and anguish Anthony Gilheaney has caused us by his evil actions. No amount of justice or prison time will ever be enough to compensate for our loss. He has taken the best part of us and left us with a dark void in our lives that can never be filled."
A Pattern of Dangerous Behaviour
The trial revealed that Gilheaney had been banned from driving five times despite never having held a legitimate licence. He told the court he had "always" liked being at the wheel of powerful cars and admitted using false number plates to avoid detection when parking tickets or other offences drew attention to his vehicle.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett KC told jurors: "In his wake, the defendant had left a trail of carnage. It is tempting to view the defendant's behaviour as inexplicable. In truth, however, it is not. It was borne out of a drink-fuelled rage that led to a racist attack on Arif Khan in Archer Street."
The Aftermath and Police Pursuit
Following the attacks, police spotted Gilheaney's erratic driving and gave chase. He eventually jumped out of his moving car, leaving it to smash into a signpost, before running off. Officers later found him passed out in Lincoln's Inn Fields in Holborn, central London.
Detective Inspector Stephanie Dexter said: "First and foremost our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of Aidan Chapman and all of those affected by this appalling incident. While Gilheany has sought to portray himself as a victim, the court has heard that his actions were deliberate and fuelled by rage and alcohol."
Court Verdict and Sentencing
Gilheaney was found guilty of:
- Murder
- Two counts of attempted murder
- Wounding
- Grievous bodily harm
The court heard that some victims were targeted for racist and homophobic reasons, with the prosecution describing attacks motivated by hate alongside the drink-fuelled rage. The incident was partially captured on the dashcam of an Uber driver whose vehicle Gilheaney rammed during his escape.
Detective Inspector Dexter added: "While no sentence can ever reflect the loss of Aidan's life or the suffering of those affected, it is hoped that today's outcome provides some measure of justice and accountability for the harm caused."
