The brilliant disguise of the vengeance-seeking barman

A barman who smashed a former colleague over the head with an iron pole after he reported him for drinking at work been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Javier De Brito Jardim, 36, was captured on CCTV wrapping himself in a white blanket sheet in a bizarre attempt to disguise himself as he made his way to Poultry in the City of London in early hours of 1 December 2024 to launch his ferocious attack.

Jardim laid in wait for Aldo Fernandes outside The Ned hotel and bludgeoned him over the head with the pole before punching and kicking him in the head.

The victim managed to escape but he suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain which required surgery.

Police were easily able to spot Jardim on CCTV as he walked around London in the blanket and he was arrested shortly afterwards.

Jardim, a former barman at Aqua Shard restaurant appeared at Inner London Crown Court wearing a black waistcoat over a white shirt.

He admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

In his statement, Mr Fernandes told police he had suspicions it was Jardim who carried out the attack because of the work dispute.

Jardim had been drinking at work and was given a warning just days before the assault.

He believed it was the victim who had told his supervisors so began planning his revenge, the court heard.

Detective Constable Rowan Smith, at the City of London Police, said: ‘Javier De Brito Jardim thought he could come into the City without being noticed.

‘The extensive CCTV network across the Square Mile tracked his every movement, as soon as he got off the bus to make his way to attack his victim.

‘Security footage picked up everything he did, there was no getting away from the cameras which spotted him covering himself with a bedsheet, carrying out the assault, leaving his victim seriously injured, and then leaving the City.

‘I want to thank the victim for supporting our investigation. An identification from him had enabled us to find Jardim and stop him from fleeing on a flight to Beijing, and along with CCTV evidence, led us to secure this conviction.

‘Our warning to criminals; don’t come into the City to commit an offence. If you do, you risk being spotted by CCTV cameras and we will track you down, arrest you and bring you to justice.’