Police have arrested a man nearly a year after a viral incident in which a waitress was slapped with a plate inside an east London Nando’s. Distressing footage shows the young woman serving a table at the Stratford restaurant when a man suddenly strikes her in the face before leaving with his female companion and child. A woman sitting with him, believed to be his partner, appears to try to intervene, but the man instinctively lashes out at the waitress. She withstands the blow, shouts at him, and storms off.

Footage released also shows the suspect, a bearded man, ordering from the counter. The waitress, called Zahra, described the ordeal in a TikTok video. She that the incident was preempted when a new colleague did not provide a high chair for the child. Upon asking a supervisor, the waitress was told that she could not provide the chair and this information was relayed. "At this point, the man got quite aggressive with me. He started swearing at me, saying I’m wasting his f***ing time and to sit him somewhere the f*** else,” she said.

The family moved but did not take the table given to them by the manager - which had the baby chair - and sat somewhere else. She said she asked about this when serving them. “It’s at that point that the man has picked up the plate and whacked me on the side of my head with it. And there was cutlery on the plate too. "I didn't register what happened, I then remembered that police were in the restaurant so I said ‘I’m going to the police’. I walk off and go to one of the officers.”.

She said the police present did not take the complaint seriously. The waitress added in the TikTok video: "I want to say what’s more concerning than the mass behaviour was the failure of the Metropolitan Police and their conduct. "I was grossly let down by them. They have reopened the investigation now. Thanks for all of the support and the attention it’s been receiving online. And for that I’m grateful.

"However, I was really disappointed and let down with what happened at the time with the police.". The Met has confirmed the arrest and has said: "We are aware of a video circulating online showing an incident in a branch of Nando's in Stratford which took place in March. "A report of assault was made to police at the time of the incident, however, it appears this was not progressed promptly by officers.

"We are working to establish why this happened and accept this is not the level of service Londoners should rightfully expect from the Met.". A Nando's spokesperson added: "This was a shocking and unprovoked attack earlier this year. "We reported it to the police immediately and have supported our colleague since. "We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour, the safety of our colleagues and customers is our priority.".