Chelmsford man admits 'intending to cause distress' after filming Sir Chris Whitty in London Park
Jonathan Chew approached England's chief medical officer as he walked through St James's Park last June
Last updated 27th Jan 2022
A man has admitted intending to cause Professor Sir Chris Whitty distress when he approached him in a central London park.
Jonathan Chew, 24, approached England's chief medical officer as he walked through St James's Park in Westminster on June 27 last year.
Footage of the incident, lasting around 20 seconds and showing Chew alongside former estate agent Lewis Hughes, was widely shared on social media.
Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Chew, of Chelmsford, Essex, admitted a charge of intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to Sir Chris.
He also admitted obstructing Pc Steven Ozden.
Prosecutor Iestyn Morgan said that Chew started filming Sir Chris on his phone while Hughes grabbed him in a headlock.
In the footage, shown to the court, the pair can be seen jeering as Sir Chris attempted to break free.
The court then heard how Chew gave the name and old address of his brother Aaron Chew to the police officer.
Mr Morgan said: "This did cause a waste of police resources."
He said police attended the address on July 1 to discover a man called Harry now lived at the address.
Officers were then able to identify that Jonathan Chew was the suspect after he provided comments about the incident to The Sun newspaper.
Hughes, 24, earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating and was sentenced last July.
Earlier in January, Rabah Kherbane, defending, had asked for the case to be adjourned after Chew's former solicitor withdrew due to being "professionally embarrassed" following the defendant's behaviour in court.
Mr Kherbane said the defendant has several conditions including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism which would make it difficult for him to follow proceedings.
During the hearing, senior district judge Paul Goldspring repeatedly told the defendant to stop interrupting proceedings and that he would be fitted with an electronic tag due to "concerns" over him not being at home on several occasions.
Hughes, of Romford in Essex, was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for two years and was ordered to pay a total of ÂŁ307 in fines and compensation.
He was labelled "yobbish" by the Mr Goldspring and was criticised for leaving Sir Chris "humiliated" after putting him in a headlock.