Man sentenced for murdering Aidan Chapman on Christmas Day

A man has been jailed for life for murdering 25-year-old Aidan Chapman in a drunken rampage on Christmas Day in 2024.

Anthony Gilheaney, 31 (13.12.1994), of Longfield, Harlow, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 30 January to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 37 years.

The sentence follows a painstaking investigation by Met detectives, who worked tirelessly to build a case against Gilheaney.

Gilheaney was previously found guilty on Friday, 19 December of murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent following a trial at the same court.

Detective Inspector Stephanie Dexter, who helped lead the investigation, 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.”

“I would like to thank the team of officers who led a complex and fast-moving investigation. Detectives carried out extensive CCTV enquiries and gathered accounts from numerous witnesses at the scene to piece together what happened on that terrible and destructive night. In particular, they obtained vital dashcam footage, which revealed Gilheany’s movements and showed his anger.”

On Wednesday, 25 December at 00:45hrs police were called to Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 following reports of a collision and a car driving on the wrong side of the road.

Officers attended the location with the London Ambulance Service who took four pedestrians to hospital. Aidan tragically died as a result of his injuries on New Year’s Eve.

Driver Gilheaney was located in Lincoln’s Inn Fields by City of London Police around 20 minutes after the collision and arrested.

An investigation was launched which involved analysing the events leading up to the collision.

CCTV showed Gilheaney inside a nightclub on Shaftesbury Avenue, before staff asked him to leave. He then got into an argument with people outside the club, punching two members of the public.

As he returned to his car on Archer Street, Gilheaney began to racially abuse another member of the public before getting into his vehicle and driving into him. Gilheaney continued his rampage, driving the car at four additional men - aged between 23 and 58 - causing serious injury, which resulted in the charges of attempted murder.

He continued to use his car as a weapon, mounting the pavement on Shaftesbury Avenue before colliding with members of the public and fatally injuring Aidan.

In police interview, Gilheaney said he could not remember travelling to London that day and had no memory of the fatal evening.

He was charged on Friday, 27 December with four counts of attempted murder, causing serious injury by driving while disqualified, driving a motor vehicle dangerously and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Following Aidan’s death, Gilheaney was further charged with murder in January 2025.

Aidan’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 Gilheany has caused us by his evil actions.

“No amount of justice or prison time will ever be enough to compensate for our loss. Gilheany 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. We would like to thank the investigation team for their hard work and professionalism in bringing Gilheany to justice, but also to thank them for their support and genuine compassion during this very traumatic time.”