Thug pleads guilty to harassing Chris Whitty after he filmed and jeered at the chief medical officer

A thug who jeered at Professor Sir Chris Whitty while he was held in a headlock was jailed today – then marked his incarceration by vaping in the dock and singing ‘West Ham till I die’.

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 today, Chew, of Chelmsford, Essex, admitted a charge of intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to Prof Sir Chris.

He also admitted obstructing Pc Steven Ozden. Chew started vaping in the dock as the judge sentenced him to eight weeks imprisonment.

He then crossed his arms in front of his chest and started singing: ‘I’m West Ham ’till I die, I’m West Ham ’till I die.’

He shouted out loudly while he was being taken down to the cells by the dock officers. 

Hughes, 24, earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating and was sentenced last July.

Jonathan Chew (pictured earlier this month), 24, approached England’s chief medical officer as he walked through St James’s Park in Westminster on June 27 last year

Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (pictured), Chew, of Chelmsford, Essex, admitted a charge of intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to Prof Sir Chris

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.

Chew (left, and right in the video with Whitty) appeared on a court videolink earlier this month lying on his bed in a dressing gown which revealed his bare chest

The duo filmed themselves hounding Whitty when he walked through St James’ Park on June 27

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 £307 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.

Chew, 24, pictured outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June, originally denied common assault and obstructing police

Lewis Hughes, 23, (left, and right in the video) was fired from Caplen Estates Agents after the clip found its way to his boss