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The estate agent who accosted Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty last weekend in a London park has been charged with common assault.
23-year-old estate agent Lewis Hughes, of Wigton Way, Romford, will now appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 30 July.
A Metropolitan Police statement released over the weekend said that: “At approximately 19:20hrs on Sunday, 27 June officers in St James’s Park became aware of a man being accosted by a group of men.
“They spoke to the victim and checked his welfare. He had not suffered any injuries.
“Officers subsequently reviewed video footage which emerged after the incident and the matter was referred to the Public Order Crime Team. Enquiries continue.”
Hughes, along with two other friends had spotted Whitty in the park. The group of men have subsequently revealed that they had been drinking after attending one of the several anti-vaccination gatherings in London that weekend.
Headlock
In a video they published online, Whitty is seen being manhandled by Hughes and a friend and at one point Whitty appears to be put into a headlock.
During the whole encounter Whitty says nothing. He has now been accosted three times by members of the public while out and about in London and Boris Johnson has now raised the level of protection he receives.
“I have worked every day since I left college, I have never been in any trouble. Now I have to start from the beginning again and I loved my job,” said Hughes (pictured).
He added that the pair had ‘no malicious intent’ towards Whitty, who said nothing during the 18-second video, but appeared upset by their manhandling of him.
Hughes’ profile on the Caplen Estate website, which has now been removed, revealed that he had worked for three years in the industry as an estate agent prior to joining the firm.
Hughes has now suspended his profile on the business website LinkedIn.
On Friday GB News TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher appeared to support Lewis and his friends, saying that after seeing the video she did not consider it to be ‘massively disturbing’.
Wonder how she’d like be grabbed around the neck by two drunk yobs. – thought not.
Nothing worse than a TV pontificating presenter.
If there was any standards and decency on our television, Kirsty Gallagher would be sacked.
Totally agree with you – who is she!?
@ Tracy Churchwood –
Kirsty Gallagher is A BBC presenter who spoke up for the yob.
No excuse – utterly disgusting behaviour. Intimidation such as this is incredibly frightening as the victim feels that he/she could be about to be physically harmed. And the fact that this was a national hero worthy of our immense respect makes it even worse. This sort of yobbish behaviour makes me ashamed to be British.
Totally agree Richard, everyone should learn that Trust is long and hard-earned but quickly lost.
Those two yobs need to find some tough manual work where they’re not interacting with customers of a reputable employer.
Agree wholeheartedly loutish behaviour – perhaps they will think twice next time they want to assault someone. Well done Caplan, good on you.
Seems I was wrong about #KirstyGallagher being a BBC presenter, she works ( disappointingly ! ) for GB News. I was expecting more of GB News than to side with yobs.
@GBNews #GBNews
I think all the GB News presenters are being told to be as controversial as possible to generate free PR for the channel – which I think crosses the line on impartiality and sets us on a path to being like the US, where most news outlets only feign impartiality! Clearly the police disagree with the presenter – both the agent and his mate have now been charged with assault.