Malcolm Potier, 75, a former owner of the Scottish island of Gigha, has been jailed for two years for strangling a stranger during a West End performance of We Will Rock You. The attack, which took place in a crowded auditorium in front of other theatregoers, came after Potier's partner told the victim, Kirsty O'Donnell, to stop singing along; a judge described his response as "extreme and horrific" and wholly disproportionate to a trivial disagreement. The case is notable because Potier had previously served a lengthy sentence in Australia for twice plotting to have the mother of his child murdered.

Potier attacked O'Donnell, 51, at the London Coliseum on 7 June 2023, leaning over to throttle her for several seconds during the show, which starred Queen guitarist Brian May. He was identified after a friend of O'Donnell traced him via a business card left by his partner, theatre critic Lizzie Loveridge, uncovering his criminal history in the process. Potier once owned the island of Gigha, bought for £5.4 million in 1989 after outbidding Mick Jagger, before losing it along with his roughly £30 million fortune; he was previously jailed in Australia after abducting his daughter in 1999 and twice attempting to hire a hitman to kill his ex-partner, receiving an 18-year sentence there.