Ealing drink spiking: Man, 58, jailed for slipping Viagra and sleeping tablets in pint of random pub-goer

A man has been jailed after spiking a pub-goer’s drink with a mixture of Viagra and sleeping tablet “to see what would happen”.

Eamon Kelly had been awkwardly smiling at his victim, a man in his 30s, from across the table before dropping the drugs into his drink.

Police say the 58-year-old intended to drug his victim before sexually assaulting them.

While the pair did not know each other, both men had been sharing a table at the pub in Ealing Broadway, on August 29.

Fortunately, the victim spotted the tablets at the bottom of his glass after finishing his drink as they had not fully dissolved.

When confronted by the young man, Kelly simply continued smiling in an odd manner without saying a word.

Not knowing what had happened, The Broadway pub’s staff initially asked the victim to leave when they witnessed him confront Kelly again.

But after he explained the situation, they reviewed the venue’s CCTV, which showed Kelly removing an object from his left arm jacket pocket.

They then called police who arrested Kelly for administering the noxious substance.

A small vial containing what appeared to be crushed tablets was discovered in a zip pocket in his left arm after police searched him.

During an interview, Kelly claimed he had crushed the pills many years ago and then put them away.

He said he found the pills - a viagra and sleeping tablet, the day before the incident and wanted to see what would happen if he put them in someone’s drink.

Kelly, of Bramber Court, Ealing, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on 31 August to administering a substance with the intent to stupefy to allow sexual gain.

He was sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court.

He will also be added to the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Det Con Benazir Bhati said: “Kelly had gone to the pub that evening with the intention of drugging someone without their knowledge so he could sexually assault them.

“Thankfully the victim was vigilant and noticed the tablets and alerted staff, which meant officers were quickly able to get to the venue to arrest the suspect and carry out time-crucial enquiries.

“We take allegations of spiking extremely seriously and we will robustly target those who commit this heinous crime.

“We would encourage people who witness anything suspicious when they are out, or believes they have been spiked, to report it to bar staff or the police as soon as possible.”

“We would also urge people not to put any substance, including alcohol, for whatever reason, into someone else’s drink without their knowledge – as by doing so you could be committing a criminal offence.”