A hedge fund lawyer was today found guilty of punching a top fashion designer in a tussle over a seat inside the Royal Opera House.
Matthew Feargrieve, 43, was found guilty on Monday of punching Ulrich Engler at least once while attending a performance of Wagner at the Royal Opera House on October 7, 2018.
The victim was so shaken by the violent attack inside the iconic Covent Garden venue that he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The curtains were just rising for the performance when Oxford-educated lawyer Matthew Feargrieve lashed out and repeatedly punched Ulrich Engler in the shoulder.
Feargrieve, 43, "lost his temper and punched" Mr Engler after he moved from his seat in Row B into an empty seat next to his partner in Row A just as the music began to play.
One witness and friend of Mr Engler told the court she had paid £2,000 to be there, adding: "People don't behave like that at the local cinema, never mind the local opera house."
Mr Engler, a high-profile female lingerie designer and Wagner-enthusiast, was attending the world-famous Covent Garden venue for the third of four Ring Cycle performances of the German composer's epic.
Describing the assault on October 7 last year, Mr Engler, wearing a white shirt and navy blazer, told the court: "I climbed over the seat when the lights were dimming
"The conductor was on the floor and the music had started and I received blows on my left shoulder.
"I only then turned around and saw Mr Feargrieve standing up an assaulting me. They were a "constant flow of blows. They were very hard."
He added: "I have never seen somebody looking with so much anger and terror at me.
"He was leaning over the woman he was with when he attacked and the woman started to pull him into his chair."
Witness Loriana Jaconelli was sat immediately to the right of Mr Engler during the performance.
She told the court: "I saw three punches.
"He was throwing his punches in front of and behind the lady that was sat next to him.
Describing Catherine Chandler's intervention, she said: "The lady turned to the man and started to stop him, she was speaking to him and lifted her hands to try and catch her punches I think.
"The man sat down. It was quiet for a few minutes and then both the man and the lady got up and left the auditorium."
Another witness told the court that as the audience watched the altertaction, Ms Chandler hissed at them and said: "My husband was only defending me'."
Elaine McMaster, a witness and friend of Mr Engler, said: "I was shocked that this should happen in the Royal Opera House.
"Mr Feargrieve's actions were so deplorable. He started punching a man who climbed into a vacant seat."
Feargrieve, of Barnes, west London, told the court that he was acting to defend his partner who claimed Mr Engler had thrown her tweed coat from the seat onto the floor.
But finding Feargrieve guilty, District Judge John Zani said: "I simply cannot see how it is that the witnesses recall seeing a punch if it was not a punch.
"It comes to a bit more than one man's punch is another man's shove.
"I don't accept your evidence from what I have been told. I accept the evidence of the prosecution witnesses when they say that you did punch Mr Engler at least once."
He described all four witness accounts as "compelling" and said that their recollection was "accurate."
He added: "I'm entirely satisfied that the prosecution has dismantled the defence put forward.
"I don't believe your actions in defence of Ms Chandler were proportionate."
In a victim impact statement read to the court it emerged that Mr Engler, who has lived in the UK for almost 40 years and holds citizenship here, is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He said: "I had numerous blows to my upper body causing severe bruising to my ribs.
"I recieved numerous sessions of counselling. I am still anxious when I am in public. I am not the easy going person I was."
He added: "It has changed my previous positive demeanour. I was embarrassed by the attack it had a major impact on my creative attitude and I have struggled in the industry since.
"I am concerned his behaviour will cause others the physical pain that it has caused me."
Speaking outside the court, Mr Engler, originally from Stuttgar in, Germany, said: "The ROH have emailed me and given me free tickets since the incident.
"I have attended many times since."
After the incident Mr Engler sent one of his friends to hand out leaflets asking for anybody who witnessed the attack to come forward, and he said many did.
Feargrieve was released on unconditional bail and will appear next at Westminster Magistrates' Court on January 22 for sentencing.
District Judge Zani said that Feargrieve is unlikely to face a custodial sentence from the incident.
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