The men who apparently accosted Professor Chris Whitty earlier this week have been named and shamed, with one saying he’s lost his job over the incident.
Footage of the encounter went viral on social media, with users branding it “utterly disgusting” and calling for the “morons” responsible to be caught and punished.
The video, which lasts around 20 seconds and was filmed in St James’s Park in central London, shows the two grinning perpetrators grabbing England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) as they shout: “Oi oi” and “One photo please?”.
The pair have now been identified as 24-year-old Lewis Hughes, from Romford in Essex, and his friend Jonathan Chew, also 24.
Hughes has apologised for “any upset I caused”, adding that if he made the top medic feel “uncomfortable”, then “I am sorry to him for that”.
He told The Sun that Prof Whitty is clearly “quite a timid, shy person and I think that is why he didn’t say, ‘Get off me’.
“If he had said that, and I had realised how he felt, I wouldn’t have put my arm round him,” he insisted.
The 24-year-old said he had been hoping to get a selfie with the CMO to show to his mother, stressing: “There was no malicious intent, I didn’t want to upset him.”
He added that he has been sacked from his role as an estate agent as a result of the fallout, which has prompted some discussion on Twitter.
Asked by LBC’s Nick Ferrari whether Hughes’s boss was right to give him the boot, users were divided, with some suggesting the move was excessive.
Here’s how they responded:
No. I really don’t think they meant any harm to Chris Whitty. Big apology needed though.
— Carolyne Price (@MrsCJPrice) July 1, 2021
Nope, at least not on this occasion. I don’t believe their intention was to cause genuine distress to the man. An apology to his face is what is warranted here for an insensitive action, definitely not a sacking or lifetime of public ridicule & humiliation
— Mikey007 (@MichaelHohenst1) July 1, 2021
Can't see it standing up at Tribunal.
— Are _ ya_listening (@Oye_Bugger_Lugs) July 1, 2021
Does the bloke have a public facing role?
Yes there should be a consequence but not that harsh. Take a look at the cricketer recently in the media who posted a racist tweet years ago and how people stood behind him to keep his position in the England team. He didn't lose his job for something far worse
— YOUnited Cards (@younited_cards) July 1, 2021
And here’s what supporters of the sacking had to say:
Yes! I'd be interested to know if his friend received the same treatment from their employer. Breaching social distancing rules and trying to humilate the guy who deserves every right to privacy despite his current high profile during this pandemic.
— Sister Suffragette (@sisterousier) July 1, 2021
Yes. Employers have a code of conduct which also applies how u represent the company outside work, unfortunately the youth of today dont understand the importance of it. If he marched for NF outside work is that then acceptable? Outside work u still represent your employers brand
— XX (@SnoopDuggie) July 1, 2021
"Would you harass the Chief Medical Officer?" Isn't a question that comes up at interview, but if it did, and the answer was: "Yes" .... then obviously a regret upon this occasion letter would have been in the in box. So why wouldn't literally harassing be a stackable matter?
— Kate Warner 💙 (@Went2CinAsieve) July 1, 2021
Good! Intended to harm him or not, their actions went on way to long for them to use the “we didn’t intend any harm” line! Grown men should have known before their actions that gabbing someone in a headlock was wrong! If that was a woman or youngster would people be so forgiving?
— Hannah (@goldfish9287) July 1, 2021
“But all I wanted was a selfie” what a load of crap. This was an assault, it was harassment and breach of social distancing during a pandemic with a highly transmissible variant out there. I don’t blame the employer and hope other estate agents don’t offer him a job!
— commonsense hopefully (@spittingimage99) July 1, 2021
Chew has also spoken out over the incident, reinforcing his pal’s attempts at self-defence by insisting: “We didn’t cause any harm to him. We just wanted a selfie.”
The Metropolitan Police said the force was still investigating the incident, which was condemned by the Prime Minister and other politicians.
“I’m shocked at seeing the despicable harassment of chief medical officer Chris Whitty,” Boris Johnson said.
“I condemn the behaviour of these thugs. Our hard-working public servants should not have to face this kind of intimidation on our streets and we will not tolerate it.”
A spokesman for the Met said: “We are aware of a video being shared online showing an incident that took place in St James’s Park at around 19:20 on the evening of Sunday 27 June.
“Officers were in the vicinity policing a nearby demonstration and intervened when they saw what was happening.
“They spoke to the victim and checked his welfare. He had not suffered any injuries and informed officers that at that time he did not wish to make any allegations. He then went on his way.
“Officers continued to speak to the two men and recorded their details. They were robustly warned about their behaviour and ordered to leave the area.
“Police remain in contact with the alleged victim. The incident has been recorded as a common assault and continues to be investigated by the Met’s Public Order crime team.”
It is not the first time Prof Whitty, who has taken a central role in decision making and communications in the Government’s response to the pandemic, has been faced public harassment.
Earlier this month, he was confronted in a street in Oxford by a man accusing him of lying to the public about coronavirus, while in February a man accosted the chief medical officer outside Westminster.
