Mayfair Restaurateur Found Guilty of Drink Spiking at Exclusive London Club
A prominent Mayfair restaurateur has been convicted of attempting to spike a woman's drink with a date-rape drug at an exclusive private members' club in London. Vikas Nath, the 63-year-old owner of the Michelin-starred Benares restaurant, was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court of attempting to administer a substance with intent and possession of a Class B drug.
The Spiking Incident at Annabel's
The court heard how Nath spiked the woman's spicy margarita with gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) in the rooftop garden bar of the prestigious Annabel's club in Mayfair. Prosecutors revealed Nath had been carrying the drug in a vanilla extract bottle and used a straw to transfer the substance into the drink while the woman was away from the table.
Thankfully, alert staff members witnessed what they described as "rather strange actions" and intervened before the woman could consume the contaminated beverage. Their swift response prevented what prosecutors described as a planned sexual assault, with Nath allegedly intending to take the woman back to his Knightsbridge home once she had been "overpowered or stupefied".
Evidence Uncovered at Knightsbridge Home
Following his arrest, police discovered two bottles of the liquid drug at Nath's Knightsbridge residence alongside a motion sensor-activated hidden camera positioned to record his bedroom. This discovery provided crucial evidence about the restaurateur's intentions and previous behaviour.
During police interviews, Nath admitted to covertly filming sexual encounters at his home using the concealed camera. Prosecutors argued this demonstrated a pattern of behaviour consistent with his intentions on the night of the spiking incident.
Courtroom Drama and Emotional Reactions
As the guilty verdicts were delivered, Nath shook his head in the dock and could be heard saying "That's bulls***" before wiping away tears. The judge immediately remanded him in custody pending sentencing at a later date.
The court heard compelling evidence including CCTV footage that clearly showed Nath spiking the drink and text messages that revealed his intentions. In one message to a friend, Nath described the woman as "eminently f***able" and wrote "I want to get laid, not hold hands" regarding their friendship.
Victim's Testimony and Initial Defence of Nath
Remarkably, the victim initially defended Nath when staff warned her about the spiking attempt. She told the court: "I remember vividly defending Mr Nath, saying 'There is no way he could do that'. I remember sending him a message saying 'I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening'. Because I felt it was my fault."
She described feeling "betrayed" by Nath, particularly as their previous communications had included him warning her about the dangers of drink spiking. The court heard they had met for lunch meetings at Benares and the five-star Beaverbrook Town House hotel prior to the incident.
Nath's Defence and Contradictory Claims
During the trial, Nath admitted spiking the drink without consent but insisted he was merely trying to "relax" the woman rather than facilitate sexual assault. He claimed to have obtained GBL for cleaning car wheel rims and suggested he had previously consumed the substance himself to relax.
Prosecutor Tim Clark KC dismissed these claims, telling jurors that Nath was "impatient with lack of progress" in his relationship with the woman and "wanted to have sex at his house where there was a camera and it could record it".
Prosecution's Response and Wider Implications
Following the verdict, Timothy Greaves from the Crown Prosecution Service stated: "Vikas Nath deliberately spiked a woman's drink without her knowledge with the intention of incapacitating her so he could sexually assault her. Spiking is an incredibly serious offence that leaves victims traumatised and fearful."
He emphasised that despite Nath's attempts to hide evidence and deny his intentions, the CPS worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to build a strong case. "The CPS is clear that offenders like Nath will face the full extent of the law so we can deliver the justice victims deserve," Greaves added.
Aftermath and Future Proceedings
The court heard how Nath, after realising he had been caught, attempted to dispose of evidence by throwing the vanilla extract bottle containing GBL into a toilet cistern. Staff managed to retrieve both the bottle and the spiked drink, which were subsequently tested by police forensic experts.
A further hearing has been scheduled for February 16, where sentencing will be determined. The case has highlighted both the dangers of drink spiking in London's nightlife venues and the crucial role that vigilant staff can play in preventing serious crimes.
