Top Hoxton chef spiked dessert with Ecstasy
A top chef who once served afternoon tea to the Queen is facing jail for spiking chocolate truffles with Ecstasy.
Neil Iron, 32, laced the desserts with the party drug to “liven up” a birthday celebration at the Red Lion pub in Hoxton Square, Hoxton.
Victim Charlie Webster had an “out-of-body experience” after eating two “special” chocolate truffles left over from the party, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.
During cross examination by prosecutor Jack Talbot, Iron insisted that he would never put drugs in food and denied telling Mr Webster that the truffles had been spiked.
He insisted: “I have never suggested there were drugs in any of the products. I’m not going to say to someone, ‘Would you like some drug-laced food products?’ when you are about to sit in my restaurant.”
You may also want to watch:
Iron, of Haberdasher Street, Hoxton, claimed the chocolate truffles could have been tampered with by guests at the party on October 8 last year and denied all three counts of administering poison or a noxious substance with intent.
A jury of five men and seven women found him guilty of one count but cleared him of a further two relating to two toddlers who were taken to hospital after sharing a chocolate pudding.
Most Read
- 1 Archway murder investigation launched as 15-year-old victim named
- 2 Archway stabbing: 16-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder
- 3 Islington man sentenced after spate of motorbike and bike thefts
- 4 Teenager dies after stabbing in Archway
- 5 Barnsbury homes evacuated after burst Thames Water pipe floods basements
- 6 Pictures: Scenes in Islington and Hackney after snowfall blankets London
- 7 Archway man jailed after causing 'totally avoidable' crash
- 8 Tributes paid to Islington student fatally stabbed in Tottenham
- 9 Angel Comedy Club launches mockumentary series to save venue
- 10 Two 16-year-olds charged with murder of Islington student
Afternoon tea
Iron, a former head chef at The Royal Marsden hospital in Chelsea, once served the Queen and Prince Edward afternoon tea when they opened a cancer rehabilitation centre. He also reached the semi-finals of the National Chef of the Year awards and was named the most promising catering student of the year at college.
He was cautioned for possession of cocaine last year.
Adjourning sentence until July 20, Judge Neil Sanders warned Iron that the administration of Ecstasy crossed the custody threshold.