Estate agent Lewis Hughes pleads guilty to assault over video of Chris Whitty being harassed in park

Lewis Hughes, 23, arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, where he is charged with common assault. Credit: PA

A sacked estate agent has pleaded guilty to assaulting England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty in St James' Park in London.

An investigation was launched after Prof Whitty was accosted in St James’s Park at around 7.20pm on Sunday June 27.

Lewis Hughes, from Romford in Essex, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Hughes will be sentenced later on Friday.

A second man, Jonathan Chew, 24, from Chelmsford, Essex, pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

Chew, who wore a navy hoodie for the appearance, also denied wilfully obstructing police constable Steven Ozden on the same day.

He was granted bail and was asked to appear at the same court on November 23 for a trial.

Professor Chris Whitty was approached by the two men in London. Credit: Twitter

Footage of the incident, lasting around 20 seconds, was widely shared on social media and was condemned by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and several politicians.

Met Police said officers intervened at the time.