Michelin Star Restaurateur Admits Spiking Woman's Drink at Exclusive London Club
Vikas Nath, a 63-year-old restaurateur with a portfolio of top restaurants in the UK and Spain, has admitted to spiking a woman's drink with a date-rape drug at the exclusive private members' club Annabel's in Mayfair. The incident, which occurred on January 15, 2024, was captured on CCTV and witnessed by quick-thinking staff who intervened to prevent the woman from consuming the contaminated beverage.
Spiking Incident at Annabel's Rooftop Bar
Southwark Crown Court heard that the woman, a regular member at Annabel's, had invited Nath to the club. While seated in the rooftop garden bar, she ordered a spicy margarita before leaving the table briefly to show friends around the premises. It was during her absence that staff observed Nath engaging in suspicious behaviour.
Prosecutor Tim Clark KC described how Nath retrieved a small Madagascan vanilla extract bottle from his pocket, used a straw to suck up liquid from it, and then transferred the substance into the woman's drink by placing the straw in her glass and removing his finger from the top. Staff immediately alerted senior managers, who reviewed CCTV footage and warned the woman that her drink may have been spiked.
Staff Intervention and Evidence Concealment
Before the woman returned to the table, bar staff switched the drugged margarita for a fresh one, telling Nath it tasted "a little watery." As police were called, Nath reportedly went to the lavatory and threw the small bottle into a toilet cistern, where it was later recovered by officers. Forensic analysis confirmed the bottle contained traces of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), a Class B drug often associated with drink spiking.
Two additional bottles of GBL were subsequently discovered under Nath's sink at his Knightsbridge home. In police interviews, Nath claimed he obtained the substance as a cleaning fluid for a high-performance car and had been told by a friend it could be used with alcohol as a "relaxant."
Defence Claims and Additional Revelations
Nath admits spiking the drink but denies any sexual intent, insisting his motive was merely to "relax" the woman. He attributes his actions to a mental health breakdown following his divorce and claims he was unaware GBL was an illegal substance. The court also heard that Nath had a motion-activated camera in his bedroom, which he admits using to "covertly" record sexual activity in the past.
Prosecutors presented text messages exchanged between Nath and a friend prior to the incident, suggesting he was "frustrated" about not having had sex with the woman and wanted to pursue a sexual encounter. Despite these communications, Nath maintains his spiking was not part of a plan to facilitate sexual activity.
Physical Symptoms of Drink Spiking
The Metropolitan Police outline numerous potential physical symptoms of drink spiking, which can include:
- Confusion, nausea, or vomiting
- Hallucinations and paranoia
- Disorientation or poor coordination
- Memory loss and lowered inhibitions
- Loss of balance and unconsciousness
- Vision problems and difficulty communicating
Nath currently denies charges of attempting to administer a substance with intent and possession of a Class B drug. The trial at Southwark Crown Court continues as jurors consider the evidence presented in this high-profile case involving a prominent figure in the culinary world.
