A drunk driver who murdered a man during a Christmas Day car rampage in which he deliberately ploughed his Mercedes into six people has been jailed for life.
Anthony Gilheaney, 32, ‘drove like a maniac’ through London’s West End, leaving a ‘trail of carnage’ behind him as he launched his series of unprovoked attacks.
He hit 25-year-old Aidan Chapman, who died in hospital from his injuries on New Year’s Eve.
Gilheaney, who has been banned from driving five times despite never having had a licence, told the court he has ‘always’ liked being at the wheel of powerful cars.
He also said he used false number plates to help cover his tracks whenever parking tickets or other offences triggered interest in the vehicle.
Gilheaney was found guilty of murder, two attempted murders, wounding and GBH.
He was handed a minimum sentence of 37 years at the Old Bailey today.
After the convictions, Mr Chapman’s family said: ‘No parent should have to go through the hellish trauma of losing a child, words cannot describe the pain and anguish Anthony Gilheaney has caused us by his evil actions.
‘No amount of justice or prison time will ever be enough to compensate for our loss.
‘Gilheaney has taken the best part of us. He has left us with a dark void in our lives that can never be filled.
‘He took our only son from us. Something we will never get over. Something we will never forgive.’
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Gilheaney also knocked over Arif Khan with his car before getting out to physically attack him after calling him a racial slur, and deliberately drove at three others: Marcelo Basbus-Garcia and his partner, Miguel Waihrich, and Mr Chapman’s friend, Tyrone Itorho.
Some of his victims were targeted for racist and homophobic reasons.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett KC, told jurors during the trial: ‘In his wake, the defendant had left a trail of carnage.
‘It is tempting to view the defendant’s behaviour as inexplicable.
‘In truth, however, it is not.
‘It was borne out of a drink-fuelled rage that led to a racist attack on Arif Khan in Archer Street.
‘He then targeted two men in Great Windmill Street in what the prosecution suggests was a homophobic attack.
‘He then deliberately drove at pedestrians in Great Windmill Street.
‘By the time he reached Shaftesbury Avenue, the defendant was simply completely and utterly out of control.
‘He deliberately drove across the street intending to kill someone – and that is what happened.’
Gilheaney left a nightclub in the early hours of Christmas Day 2024 and got into an argument with a complete stranger, punched another stranger and attacked Hardeep Singh, a Sikh man, unprovoked as he walked along Shaftesbury Avenue, the trial heard.
He then got into his car and started shouting abuse at Mr Khan, calling him a ‘P***’.
When Mr Khan went into the street to confront Gilheaney, the defendant drove forward before reversing back, knocking him to the ground.
Gilheaney got out of the car and attacked Mr Khan, throwing him to the ground and kicking him.
Mr Singh returned with friends and found Gilheaney in the process of attacking Mr Khan in Archer Street before he and his group beat the defendant up, the court heard.
The incident was recorded on the dashcam of an Uber driver, whose vehicle Gilheaney rammed into after he got into his own car.
Gilheaney then drove up and down the street, mounting the kerb and causing pedestrians to flee in panic.
He drove at Mr Basbus-Garcia and Mr Waihrich who were walking along the street holding hands, having been to midnight mass and, further along Shaftesbury Avenue, driving into Mr Chapman and Mr Itorho.
Mr Chapman was hit full on, suffering catastrophic brain damage, and died in hospital on New Year’s Eve.
Following the attacks, police spotted Gilheaney’s erratic driving and gave chase.
Gilheaney eventually jumped out of his moving car and ran off, leaving the vehicle to smash into a signpost.
Police later found him passed out in Lincoln’s Inn Fields in Holborn, central London.
Detective Inspector Stephanie Dexter said: ‘First and foremost our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of Aidan Chapman and all of those affected by this appalling incident.
‘Aidan was a young man out celebrating the festive season with his friend when they were struck by Gilheany’s vehicle. While Gilheany has sought to portray himself as a victim, the court has heard that his actions were deliberate and fuelled by rage and alcohol.
‘While no sentence can ever reflect the loss of Aidan’s life or the suffering of those affected, it is hoped that today’s outcome provides some measure of justice and accountability for the harm caused.’
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