Household Cavalry Soldier Describes Tackling Man in Hyde Park Sexual Assault Attempt
An off-duty soldier from the Household Cavalry has provided detailed testimony in court about how he physically wrestled and detained a man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault him in London's Hyde Park. The incident occurred as the soldier was walking back to his barracks through the central London park at approximately 2am.
Court Hears Graphic Details of Alleged Assault
Giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court, the soldier described feeling "disgusted" when Noushad Chathoth, 50, steered him toward a tree, dropped to his knees, and attempted to unbuckle his trousers. "I elbowed him in the head with my left elbow," the soldier testified, explaining that he also headbutted Chathoth during the confrontation. "I was afraid for my safety."
The soldier recounted a physical struggle on the ground where he punched Chathoth and managed to get on top of him. "I wanted to apprehend him and stop him from getting away," he told the court. According to testimony, the soldier then sat on Chathoth for approximately 15 minutes while calling his barracks for assistance and dialing 999 for police.
Police Discover Soldier Still Detaining Suspect
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found the soldier still physically detaining Chathoth on the path outside the Serpentine Bar in the middle of Hyde Park. The soldier added during his testimony that Chathoth told him during their encounter that he has a wife and children.
Chathoth is currently on trial accused of sexual assault for the incident that occurred in 2022. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge, maintaining that their interaction appeared to be consensual and that he was actually assaulted by the soldier.
Prosecution Details Alleged Sexual Advances
Opening the case, prosecutor Alex Matthews explained that the soldier had been off-duty and had been out drinking in central London before encountering Chathoth. "(He) noticed he was being followed by a man who attempted to engage him in conversation," Matthews stated.
The soldier testified that he was initially friendly toward Chathoth, but the situation escalated when the man allegedly "said he wanted to touch and suck (his) dick." The soldier claimed he made it "quite clear he wasn't interested," but Chathoth was persistent and attempted to rub against him.
"He informed the man he was a soldier in the hope it would put him off, but it had the opposite effect," Matthews told the court. "The man pushed him against a tree and tried to grab his penis."
Defendant Presents Different Version of Events
During cross-examination, the soldier denied going into Hyde Park for a sexual encounter with a man and insisted he had not gone out with any plan to attack a homosexual individual. He acknowledged using force during the incident but denied beating Chathoth "to a pulp."
In his police interview, Chathoth presented a different account, stating that he complimented the soldier's "really good chest" and claimed they had held hands. "I said I could give you a really good blowjob," Chathoth told police, alleging that the soldier had suggested they "go somewhere" before asking him to go on his knees.
Prosecutor Matthews posed critical questions to the jury: "What's going on? Is it unwanted contact on someone trying to be polite and courteous, saying 'no thank you'? Or is it quite the opposite, actually is this something that looks pretty consensual to him?"
The soldier also testified that Chathoth had "pretended to be asleep or unconscious" while he sat on him waiting for police to arrive. The trial continues as both sides present their conflicting accounts of what transpired during the late-night encounter in one of London's most famous parks.
