Ella Scott
Eerie CCTV footage used to convict a Knightsbridge restaurateur clearly showed his attempt at spiking a woman’s drink with the intent to commit a sexual offence.
On 6 February, Vikas Nath, 63, was convicted of possessing a controlled class B drug and administering it to a woman via her unattended beverage at a private members’ club in London.
The businessman’s actions were reported by a vigilant staff member, who reportedly witnessed him using a straw to transfer liquid from a small bottle into the drink of the woman on two occasions, as per a Metropolitan Police report.
Chilling CCTV footage has captured the moment, which you can watch below:
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Upon their arrival at the venue, the police were unable to find any drugs in Nath’s possession.
They later found a discarded bottle in the cistern of the toilet in the cubicle, according to the notice.
Police then arrested the offender on suspicion of administering a substance with intent.
Scientists who analysed the drugs discovered that it was Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL) - a colourless liquid chemical which promotes sedative and anaesthetic effects.
According to Talk to Frank, it is extremely easy to overdose on GBL, and it can take between 10 minutes and an hour for it to take effect.
Symptoms of GBL spiking include sudden and extreme intoxication, falling asleep or being unable to stay awake, vomiting, seizures, and loss of consciousness, as per UK Addiction Treatment Centres.
Officers attended Nath’s address after his arrest and found two larger bottles of unlabelled clear liquid under his kitchen sink. These were later tested and found to be GBL.
Following a five-day trial at Southwark Crown Court, Nath was convicted.
“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,” said Detective Constable Louis Prior, of the Met’s Public Protection Command.
“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.”
Ten days after the Metropolitan Police report was published, the BBC wrote that Nath had been accused of one count of rape, three charges of sexual assault, three allegations of voyeurism and two further counts of administering a substance with intent.
The report said that he carried out the sex attacks on a woman on two dates in 2022.
He denied all charges and is set to appear in front of Judge Usha Karu for a trial to be set for 8 February 2027, as per the publication.