A man has admitted intending to cause Professor Sir Chris Whitty distress when approaching him in June last year.

Jonathan Chew, 24, approached England’s chief medical officer as he walked through St James’s Park in Westminster.

The incident, which lasted about 20 seconds, was captured on video and shared on social media.

On Thursday, Chew, of Chelmsford in Essex, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to a charge of intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He also admitted obstructing PC Steven Ozden.

Earlier in January, Rabah Kherbane, defending, said Chew has several conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism which would make it difficult for him to follow proceedings.

Senior district judge Paul Goldspring repeatedly told Chew to stop interrupting proceedings, warning that he would be fitted with an electronic tag due to “concerns” over him not being at home on several occasions.

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Footage of the incident had showed Chew alongside former estate agent Lewis Hughes, 24.

Hughes pleaded guilty to as charge of assault by beating soon afterwards and was sentenced last July – an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for two years and £307 in fines and compensation.

Judge Goldspring had described Hughes as “yobbish”, adding that he had left Sir Chris “humiliated” after putting him in a headlock.

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