Restaurateur mutters "That's b*******" in court after spiking a woman's drink with a date-rape drug
A restaurant owner has been found guilty of lacing a woman's drink with a date-rape drug at an exclusive members' club in an attempt to incapacitate her for sex. Vikas Nath, 63, contaminated the woman's spicy margarita with gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) after she left him alone with the beverage in the rooftop garden bar at Annabel's in Mayfair. Southwark Crown Court was told Nath had become exasperated by the woman's apparent unwillingness to sleep with him before the drugging incident, and brought GBL in a vanilla extract bottle to the venue. The defendant kept two bottles of the liquid substance at his Knightsbridge residence, alongside a motion sensor-triggered hidden camera aimed at his bed. The prosecution argued his scheme was to sedate the woman and bring her to his property for sex once she had been "overpowered or stupefied". Police said Nath’s actions were despicable and sinister. Annabel's staff noticed Nath using a straw to slip GBL into the margarita, and stepped in to stop the woman from consuming it.
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Guilty verdict and immediate reaction in court
On Friday, a jury found Nath guilty of attempting to administer a substance with intent and possession of a Class B drug. The businessman, who runs Michelin-starred Benares in Mayfair as part of a portfolio of premium restaurants across the UK and Spain, stared at the ground as the jury delivered its verdicts, and was seen shaking his head in the dock. He brushed away tears as the judge remanded him in custody pending sentencing at a future date, and was heard muttering "That's b*******". Nath had been forced to admit to tampering with the woman's beverage after being caught in the act by Annabel's personnel and captured on the exclusive members' club's CCTV. The spicy margarita, which had been spiked, was retrieved by staff, enabling later examination by police forensic specialists. Prosecutor Tim Clark KC praised the rapid response of Annabel's staff after they observed "rather strange actions" by Nath on January 15 2024. "(They) watched Mr Nath put a straw into (her) drink, sticking his finger over the top", he said. Nath was holding a small bottle, and employed the straw to "suck up liquid" before releasing the contents into the woman's beverage. The woman, who had stepped away from the table, was approached by staff before she could return to Nath and was informed of what was transpiring.
The victim’s perspective and the alleged pre‑dating dynamics
The woman told the trial she felt "betrayed" by Nath, but had initially stood up for him when staff warned that they suspected her drink had been tampered with. "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. I didn't want him in trouble, I didn't believe it." The court heard they had been in contact prior to the Annabel's incident, including for lunch meetings at Benares and the Beaverbrook Town House five-star hotel. She also recalled Nath taking her to a burlesque show at Cirque Le Soir, and the court was shown messages in which Nath had actually warned the woman about drinks being spiked. "I don't think I will be drinking today," she had messaged Nath, after an evening out. He replied: "I think you should drink, but be aware of people around you. My biggest concern last night was someone spiking your drink." After he was arrested at the club, Nath admitted spiking the woman's drink without her consent, but insisted he had been trying to "relax" her rather than overpower her for sex. He claimed to have obtained GBL to clean the wheel rims of a high-powered car, on the advice of a friend, and suggested he himself had drunk some of the liquid in the past to relax. Nath also claimed to have "hugged and kissed" the woman, but she denied this and told the court their relationship had not been sexual. In texts shown to the jury, Nath had described the woman to a friend as "eminently f*******", said of their friendship "I want to get laid, not hold hands", and suggested he would need to "play the long game". On the day of the spiking incident, he wrote: "I'm at Annabel's. This is probably the last evening with (her). She ain't biting." The friend then replied: "Action time I hope." During police questioning, Nath also confessed to previous occasions when he had secretly recorded sexual encounters at his residence, utilising a motion-activated camera installed in his bedroom.
Official reaction, sentencing date and the path ahead
Taking the stand, Nath became emotional and wept as he acknowledged that spiking the beverage had been "wrong". "I regret it very deeply", he stated, though maintained he hadn't been contemplating sex at the time. He explained that GBL amplified alcohol's effects, and revealed he had consumed the substance himself before their visit to Annabel's. He also claimed he was unaware the substance was prohibited by law. Following the guilty verdicts, Timothy Greaves from the CPS stated: "Vikas Nath deliberately spiked a woman's drink without her knowledge with the intention of incapacitating her so he could sexually assault her. "Thankfully, alert bar staff witnessed what he was doing and were able to warn the victim that her drink had been tampered with before calling the police. "Despite his attempts to hide evidence and deny his intentions, we worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to build a strong case to present at trial, resulting in the jury finding him guilty. "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." Detective Constable Louis Prior, of the Met’s Public Protection Command, said: “Nath’s actions were despicable and sinister, adding a dangerous drug to a woman’s drink while she wasn’t present in an attempt to enable sexual activity. “Thanks to the quick-thinking actions of the venue’s staff and the thorough work of the attending officers and investigation team, Nath was prevented from causing harm to the victim and is now held accountable for his actions. “I commend the strength of this victim throughout the investigation. It’s hard to imagine how she is feeling after discovering Nath’s predatory intentions, however she has demonstrated immense strength and courage. “I also thank the venue for their cooperation throughout this investigation and for sharing our commitment to further safeguard women and girls.” A subsequent hearing in Nath's case has been arranged for February 16.
