Michelin-Star Restaurant Owner Convicted of Attempted Drink Spiking at Exclusive London Club
In a shocking case that has rocked London's exclusive dining scene, the owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant has been found guilty of attempting to spike a woman's cocktail with a date-rape drug at one of the capital's most prestigious private members' clubs.
The Incident at Annabel's
Vikas Nath, the 63-year-old proprietor of the acclaimed Benares restaurant in Mayfair, was convicted on Friday at Southwark Crown Court for attempting to administer a substance with intent and possession of a Class B drug. The court heard how Nath had laced a woman's spicy margarita with gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) while they were together in the rooftop garden bar of Annabel's in Mayfair on 15 January 2024.
According to prosecutors, Nath had grown increasingly frustrated with what he perceived as the woman's reluctance to engage in sexual activity with him. The court was told he had brought the liquid drug to the exclusive club concealed within a vanilla extract bottle, with the apparent intention of drugging his companion.
Disturbing Evidence Revealed
During the trial, jurors heard disturbing details about Nath's preparations. Police discovered he had two bottles of the liquid drug at his Knightsbridge home, along with a motion sensor-activated covert camera positioned to record his bedroom. The businessman admitted in police interviews to previous incidents where he had secretly filmed sexual encounters at his residence.
Prosecutor Tim Clark KC told the court that Nath's plan was to drug the woman and transport her to his home once she had been "overpowered or stupefied" by the substance. However, his scheme was thwarted by vigilant staff at Annabel's who noticed his "rather strange actions" as he used a straw to introduce the GBL into the cocktail.
Swift Intervention and Aftermath
Alert employees intervened before the woman could consume the contaminated drink, with bar staff successfully retrieving the spiked margarita from the table for forensic analysis. Realising he had been "rumbled," Nath attempted to dispose of evidence by throwing the vanilla extract bottle containing the drug into a toilet cistern, but it was later recovered by police.
The woman, who testified during the trial, described feeling "betrayed" by the incident. She recalled initially defending Nath to club staff, saying "There is no way he could do that," and even sending him an apologetic message because she "felt it was my fault."
Contradictory Behaviour and Defence
In a disturbing twist, the court heard that Nath had previously warned the same woman about the dangers of drink spiking, messaging her: "My biggest concern last night was someone spiking your drink." Text messages shown to the jury revealed Nath describing the woman to a friend as "eminently f***able" and expressing frustration about their platonic relationship, stating "I want to get laid, not hold hands."
Despite admitting to spiking the drink without consent during his police interview, Nath insisted his intention had been to "relax" the woman rather than overpower her for sexual purposes. He offered the improbable explanation that he had obtained GBL to clean the wheel rims of a high-performance vehicle, following a friend's recommendation.
Emotional Courtroom Scenes
During his testimony, Nath broke down in tears, acknowledging that spiking the drink had been "wrong" and expressing deep regret for his actions. He maintained that he had not been thinking about sex at the time and claimed ignorance about the substance's illegal status.
As the jury returned their guilty verdicts, the restaurateur could be seen shaking his head in the dock, visibly distressed by the outcome.
Prosecution Response and Next Steps
Following the conviction, Timothy Greaves from the Crown Prosecution Service emphasised the seriousness of spiking offences, stating: "Spiking is an incredibly serious offence that leaves victims traumatised and fearful. While these offences can often go undetected, the CPS is clear that offenders like Nath will face the full extent of the law so we can deliver the justice victims deserve."
A further hearing in Nath's case has been scheduled for 16 February, where sentencing considerations will be addressed. The conviction has sent shockwaves through London's hospitality industry, raising serious questions about safety in even the most exclusive establishments.
