A motorist has been found guilty of murder after a violent, drink-fuelled rampage through London's West End on Christmas Day, which left a young pedestrian dead and four others injured.
A Festive Night Turned to Tragedy
Anthony Gilheaney, 31, from Harlow, Essex, was convicted at the Old Bailey on December 19, 2025, for the murder of 25-year-old Aidan Chapman. The court heard how Gilheaney launched a series of menacing and unprovoked attacks on strangers enjoying a night out in the heart of the capital.
The violence erupted after Gilheaney left a nightclub. He initially got into an argument, punched a stranger, and then attacked Hardeep Singh, a Sikh man, on Shaftesbury Avenue without provocation. The situation escalated when he got behind the wheel of his high-powered Mercedes.
A Series of Deliberate Attacks
Gilheaney began shouting racial abuse at Arif Khan, calling him a slur, before driving at him. When Mr Khan tried to confront him, Gilheaney drove forward and reversed, knocking the man to the ground. He then stepped out of the vehicle to kick and thrash Mr Khan. This attack, captured on an Uber dash cam, was only interrupted when Mr Singh returned with friends, who are believed to have assaulted Gilheaney.
Undeterred, Gilheaney continued his violent spree, driving his car up and down the road, mounting the kerb as people fled in terror. He then deliberately drove at Marcelo Basbus-Garcia and his partner, Miguel Waihrich, who were walking hand-in-hand after attending midnight mass.
Finally, he targeted Aidan Chapman and his friend, Tyrone Itorho, ramming his car head-on into Mr Chapman. The 25-year-old suffered catastrophic brain injuries and died in hospital on New Year's Eve after a fight for his life.
Justice Delivered at the Old Bailey
During the trial, Gilheaney claimed he was not in control of the vehicle after being attacked and stated he did not intend to hurt anyone. He had admitted to the manslaughter of Mr Chapman and unlawfully wounding Mr Khan, but denied murder and the attempted murder of the three other men.
The jury rejected his account, convicting him not only of Mr Chapman's murder but also of the attempted murders of Mr Basbus-Garcia and Mr Itorho, and of wounding Mr Khan with intent. The court was told Gilheaney had never held a driving licence and had used false number plates to avoid parking tickets.
In a heart-wrenching statement, Aidan Chapman's family said: "No parent should have to go through the hellish trauma of losing a child... Gilheaney has taken the best part of us. He has left us with a dark void in our lives that can never be filled." They added that no amount of justice would compensate for their loss.
Anthony Gilheaney is due to be sentenced on January 30, 2026.
