Defendant in bedroom in dressing gown denies Chris Whitty assault

Chris Whitty harassment
Jonathan Chew outside court at an earlier appearance
PA
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A man accused of assaulting Professor Chris Whitty appeared in court via videolink from his bedroom while wearing a dressing gown, claiming he has tested positive for Covid-19.

Jonathan Chew, 24, accosted the UK government’s Chief Medical Advisor in St James’s Park with 23-year-old estate agent Lewis Hughes in June this year, filming the incident in a clip that went viral online.

He is seen apparently trying to grab Prof Whitty in a headlock during the incident, and has now been charged with assault.

At Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday, Chew was due to go on trial but instead of appearing in the dock he joined the hearing via videolink from his bedroom.

His lawyer Peter Fallen said Chew claims to have contracted Covid-19, and said he was withdrawing as the defence representative because he was “professionally embarrassed”.

Chew, wearing a dressing gown that slipped down to reveal his bare chest, then represented himself in a fractious exchange with Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring.

Insisting that Prof Whitty should be called as a witness at his trial, Chew said: “The law is that I have the right for him to come. I want Chris Whitty there.”

“I suspect I know a bit more about the law than you do”, the judge replied, saying the medical advisor had been excused as a witness due to earlier agreements between the prosecution and the defence.

But Chew fired back: “You’re getting it all wrong. I’ve been in court. I’ve agreed that Chris Whitty has to be in court.

“I feel like I’m innocent. I’m answering an assault charge which I don’t think I’ve done.”

The judge accused Chew of having a “cavalier approach” to court proceedings and insisted that the trial could go ahead with him on the videolink.

But he was then forced to adjourn until January 4, when it became apparent that Chew could not see CCTV footage of the June 27 incident.

Prosecutor Daniel O’Donoghue told the court Chew’s Covid-19 test results have not been verified, as the NHS does not share confidential information with the CPS.

The court heard police went to Chew’s home to check he was isolating, but were met by his brother’s girlfriend who said Chew was not there and she did not know he had Covid.

Chew denies common assault and obstructing a police officer.

Hughes, from Essex, admitted common assault and was given an eight-week suspended jail sentence in July.

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