Surveillance footage has revealed a chilling scene unfolding at an exclusive London club, exposing a restaurateur’s calculated act. Vikas Nath, owner of several acclaimed restaurants, was captured on CCTV adding a substance to a woman’s drink while they sat in the rooftop garden bar of Annabel’s.
The substance, identified as gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) – often referred to as a date-rape drug – was administered using a straw. The footage, presented to the court, showed Nath’s deliberate actions, raising disturbing questions about his intent.
Nath admitted to spiking the drink, but offered a startling defense. He claimed his intention wasn’t malicious, but rather to “relax” the woman, whom he had met on previous occasions. He vehemently denied any plan to incapacitate her.
He described the woman as “erratic” and stated he hoped to alleviate her anxiety. Nath further testified that he had previously used GBL recreationally, believing it enhanced the effects of alcohol. He claimed to have consumed it before entering the club that evening.
The court learned Nath had initially acquired the substance years earlier, intending to use it for cleaning his car. A friend later suggested it could be consumed with alcohol as a “relaxant,” though Nath also admitted he wasn’t fully aware of the drug’s properties.
A swift response from the attentive staff at Annabel’s prevented a potential tragedy. Recognizing something was amiss, they discreetly replaced the spiked drink with a fresh one before the woman could take a sip.
In a desperate attempt to conceal his actions, Nath discarded the bottle of GBL into a toilet cistern. However, police were able to retrieve it, providing crucial evidence for forensic analysis. The original, spiked drink was also secured for testing.
The woman, initially in disbelief, recounted her reaction at the trial. She vividly remembered defending Nath when staff first raised concerns, stating, “There is no way he could do that.” She even sent him a message apologizing, feeling responsible for the situation.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she later expressed a profound sense of betrayal. The realization of what had transpired left her shaken and questioning the character of someone she had trusted.
During his testimony, a visibly distraught Nath admitted his wrongdoing. “What I did was wrong and I regret it very deeply,” he stated, tears streaming down his face. Despite his remorse, the jury ultimately found him guilty of attempting to administer a substance with intent and possession of a Class B drug.
