A TRAITORS star punched and kicked restaurant staff in a shocking unprovoked attack last year.
John McManus, 51, appeared on the first series of the hit BBC show in 2022 but was ‘murdered’ by episode five.
BBCJohn McManus, 51, appeared on the first series of The Traitors in 2022 but was ‘murdered’ by episode five[/caption]
He was caught launching a horrendous unprovoked attack on restaurant staff Edinburgh attack last year
McManus grabs a woman by the hair before hauling her to the floor during the barbaric attack
McManus, a spa therapist and actor, admitted assaulting the pair at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on December 15
Last month he admitted lashing out at a waiter and waitress during Sunday dinner service at a posh seafood and champagne restaurant in Edinburgh.
Baffled staff say he became enraged when he was asked to keep the noise down after quaffing two bottles of wine with a pal.
Exclusive CCTV footage obtained by The Sun shows McManus launching a violent attack on a 62-year-old waiter at the door of the The Ship On The Shore seafood restaurant in Leith just before 8pm on May 7.
In the footage he can be seen being dragged away from the waiter before carrying out a second attack on the waitress less than 30 seconds later by grabbing her by the hair and hauling her to the floor.
McManus, a spa therapist and actor, admitted assaulting the pair at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on December 15.
He pleaded guilty to two charges of assault on the first day of his trial – having denied attacking the pair since his first court appearance in June.
He was fined £470 and ordered to pay the waitress £600 in compensation – which a source said was “unbelievable”.
A source said: “John was swearing and using the F-word a lot – they were seated next to a table with young children and it wasn’t appropriate.
“A waiter went over to ask them to keep the noise down.
“He walked away and John started badmouthing him to the other waiting staff – saying he would not leave the restaurant without ‘doing’ something to him.”
After finishing their drinks McManus got up to leave, but at the exit he “got up in the waiter’s face and called him a c**t*, according to the source.
“The fight moved outside and John grabbed the waiter by the tie and started raining punches down on him while he stood there bent double, unable to defend himself”, the source said.
“A female member of staff had come outside to see what was happening, she didn’t even say anything to him and McManus grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to the ground.”
Customers called police, who quickly arrived and arrested McManus.
“It is clear as day on the CCTV who the aggressor is,” said the source.
The female member of staff has been left with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is so “emotionally scarred” by the incident she had to leave the business.
A friend said she has signed up for self-defence lessons after the “confidence-destroying” assault.
They said: “After the attack she was scared to leave the house and cried for three days straight. Nothing can prepare you for something like this.
“She has a constant headache which her GP said is a symptom of PTSD. She struggles to work because of the headaches.
“She is currently in therapy and is worried she will have to leave the hospitality industry. She loves her job but this makes it very difficult to carry on.
“I can’t believe he was only fined £1,070 – it is nothing for someone of his stature. The compensation he has been ordered to pay will barely cover the fees for the therapy she has had to have because of his actions.”
During the first season of the hit BBC series, McManus was slammed for grilling fellow Faithful Aaron on why he left the room during a tense round table discussion.
He was eventually ‘murdered’ by the show’s Traitors, Wilfred Webster, Alyssa Chan and Amanda Lovett.
McManus has recently accused producers of editing his scenes to portray him as the villain, commenting: “Look at Nasty Nick on Big Brother, there’s always got to be somebody”.
Represented by CDM talent agency, he has previously had small parts in EastEnders, Taggart, Taboo and the BBC’s 2019 mini series Les Misérables.
He most recently appeared as a clown in CBBC show Lagging – with the episode airing just two weeks before he pleaded guilty to the assaults.
Representatives for McManus have been contacted for comment.
McManus pleaded guilty to two charges of assault on the first day of his trial – having denied attacking the pair since his first court appearance in June.The Sun
BBCMcManus has recently accused The Traitors producers of editing his scenes to portray him as the villain[/caption]
InstagramMcManus was arrested following the May 7 attack at the door of the The Ship On The Shore seafood restaurant in Leith[/caption]
TwitterMcManus was fined £470 and ordered to pay the waitress £600 in compensation – which a source said was ‘unbelievable’[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
