Pub Customer Caught On CCTV Headbutting Alleged Drug Dealer

An Ebbw Vale man, working in London at a prestigious development, was caught on CCTV headbutting a suspected drug dealer, who kept hassling him during a night out.

Craig Lewis, 27, (pictured) of Gurnos Estate, Brynmawr says he rejected the dealer's repeated offers in a west London pub then launched the attack at a bus stop outside when approached again.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Rajib Jha in King Street, Hammersmith on June 13 and was fined £230, with £85 costs and was ordered to pay £50 compensation to the victim, plus a £23 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Mitchell told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court a CCTV operator was viewing the area at the time.

“It was during the early hours of the morning and the victim had been waiting at a bus stop after a night out.

“A CCTV camera picked out the defendant, who was watched as he approached Mr. Jha and proceeded to headbutt him for no apparent reason that Mr. Jha could understand.

“Police officers were directed to the location and Mr. Lewis was detained nearby.”

The defendant told the officers: “He kept offering me drugs and I headbutted him.”

Lewis is a £1400 per month member of the ground investigation team contracted to work at the Chelsea Harbour development.

Lewis's lawyer Miss Annie Finn told the court: “He had been in the William Morris pub that night and the victim continually offered him drugs and he headbutted him out of anger.

“The victim suffered a cut to the lip and a scratch to his face, but the victim did not wish to assist police that much and did not give consent to any medical form.

“Mr. Lewis had been working hard, was tired and was upset because a friend of his had recently died from drugs.

“It was just one headbutt, it was a combination of factors on that day and is unlikely to reoccur.

"The victim was unwilling to co-operate with the police and, it appears, was unwilling to appear in court.”