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Original poster

Sexual assault during hotel stay

159 replies

Tripadvisornotloading · 14/05/2024 19:09

Myself and 3 friends booked a spa night at a popular hotel on the Wirral.
A drugged up strange man broke into one of the rooms during the night and got into a bed with one of the young ladies and sexually assaulted her, we were subsequently all traumatised and extremely upset. We were up with police most of the night giving statements, the doors on the rooms were different and one automatically locked, so we’ve assumed the other did - it didn’t as it wasn’t a fire door. We spent most of the time in the bigger room (with the fire door) getting ready etc as a group so had gotten used to the door slamming locked.
Anyway, during the night and next morning the reception assured us both rooms would be free of charge. We had already paid for lunch, dinner and drinks as and when purchasing. We spent a considerable amount in the short amount of time we were there.
Then as the lead guest on the booking I contacted the hotel the following Monday to ask guest relations to call me - I just wanted to clarify - as directed by reception staff - whether there was a key card used to enter the room or if the door was faulty, I didn’t put any information within the email; just that I would like management to give me a call.
I got a rude email back, not asking about the welfare of the assaulted party or other traumatised guests but demanding payment for the rooms - the ones we had been told were free of charge.
I then get further threats of taking me to a debt collection agency and pay the bill in full for both rooms.
Now 7 months down the line I get an email from
TripAdvisor asking for a review, I post a review stating what happened and how the management l/guest relations have responded and treated us and the management have said it’s completely inaccurate and they’ve only asked for payment for food and drinks! I’m absolutely raging! I’ve tried to edit my review to include the screenshots of emails stating the exact amount in question is for the 2 rooms but it won’t let me edit my review, I’ve then tried to post another review to back up the initial review and it’s only bringing my camera roll up to post from earlier today, I’ve deleted and redownloaded the app etc to no avail - I can’t get them posted to back up my version of events

OP posts:
Original poster
Tripadvisornotloading · 15/05/2024 12:38

Can I just reassure everyone concerned that the friend who was assault is fully on board and aware of any posts, reviews, emails etc. Not that any of this is outing, as the people who already know what has happened know all the details and the people that don’t know anything but know us wouldn’t identify us from the review/this thread or anything else, not that she’s concerned with it being anonymous. I appreciate some may be in her situation and that’s their prerogative, but why should she? She hasn’t done anything wrong here so why should she be shamed into silence? She’s conflict avoidant, fortunately for her I’m not so she’s happy for me to tackle this on her behalf.
In terms of this jeopardising the case, it’s very cut and dry and video evidence is available, he was arrested at the scene and has appeared in court. He can’t exactly use us complaining of the hotels response as an excuse for sexual assault; it’s expected he will use alcohol/drugs as a defence but it’s hardly an excuse. Millions of people get drunk everyday, it doesn’t give them the right to violate random strangers.

OP posts:
Combattingthemoaners · 15/05/2024 12:33

WeekendFreedom · 15/05/2024 12:17

Maybe some people are just more concerned about the friend and her feelings to what happened to her over the fact OP can’t rage at trip advisor

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If that is the case it can still be done in a way that isn’t so blunt and ignores the rest of the issue.

ForeveraBluebird · 15/05/2024 12:33

This is an awful thing to happen and I hope there is a resolution from the court and the hotel. Id be concerned that your friend didn’t want this discussed in public though on here or Tripadvisor. Hope she has support and recovers soon.

SpoonyFish · 15/05/2024 12:31

Moonpie6 · 15/05/2024 09:48

Oh god which hotel was this? I will avoid.

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@Moonpie6 It was Liverpool Central!

WeekendFreedom · 15/05/2024 12:17

Combattingthemoaners · 15/05/2024 05:10

It’s unbelievable isn’t it. Someone could tell the most horrific story in the world with some minor detail about what they were eating and posters on here would be like “do you always have takeaways?” So bloody pedantic.

One poster the other day described her boyfriend hiding in the under stairs cupboard during a house party because he didn’t like her friends. Another poster completely ignored his weird behaviour and said “was he not allowed to have his own friends there??”. Constant blaming of others, it’s tiresome.

Show quote history

Maybe some people are just more concerned about the friend and her feelings to what happened to her over the fact OP can’t rage at trip advisor

DownWithThisKindOfThing · 15/05/2024 12:00

This is awful.

FWIW if I read your review and their comment I would believe you and think they were arse covering to cover that they can’t keep women safe.

I agree with putting on a Google review and also recapping their reply to you and rebutting that.

i hope you are all ok

YouOKHun · 15/05/2024 11:55

Bookworm1111 · 15/05/2024 08:58

OP says the man has been charged, so proceedings are now active. It means anything written publicly about the case could prejudice it and reporting restrictions apply.

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@Bookworm1111 totally agree with you

Change2banon · 15/05/2024 11:17

I’ve just looked at the TA review and response - it’s seems Guest Services are quite bad/rude indeed at responding to any negative review, not only this one.

Sounds to me the man (off his face through drink and drugs) thought he’d entered his own room to be with his bride. Not minimising this in the slightest. It’s a shame men (and women) don’t see the danger they pose when high like this.

I hope you get better responses to your latest email efforts OP, I hope you all, especially your friend, recover from this as quickly as possible.

Flowers
Bubblegum921 · 15/05/2024 11:07

As a pp suggested, I would also advise to remove the review on TA. Knowing the area, I was able to find the review very easily.

I would write a letter directly to the hotel for the manager’s attention, and might be worth contacting the travel association.

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-complain-about-hotel-accommodation-ahSjZ5G5jq77

How to complain about hotel accommodation - Which?

Has the hotel room from hell robbed you of a good nights sleep? Follow our simple steps for redress, whether you claim while still away, or when you return home.

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-complain-about-hotel-accommodation-ahSjZ5G5jq77

commonground · 15/05/2024 11:00

Urgh, I hate a manager who responds to a review with 'no, but...'. It speaks volumes of Geoff and the hotel.

Don't mention the other bad experiences you have had with this hotel if you do get into a conversation with the big bosses. That makes you sound less credible. But tbh, I think your review is good as it stands.

If you are wanting to resolve something else (payment issues etc) with the hotel, then yes, take it up with the owner who will hopefully deal with Geoff. But with regards to your TA review, I think you have done fine.

You have done future guests a service by highlighting a serious safety issue.

I doubt anyone could read your review, see 'sexual assualt' and 'court' and then read the response and think, 'ah, poor misunderstood hotel'.

My first reaction is avoid avoid (and what an arse the manager is).

Edited to say the reply does not deny the assault. It says you are incorrect about payment for services. So there seems to be no prejudice against a case here. The payment is not on trial.

OrchardBlack · 15/05/2024 10:55

So you know OP, I've flagged the managers response on TA as inappropriate and explained why. Worth a shot to make them see how unprofessional he is.

I really hope you and your friend OK 💐

Words · 15/05/2024 10:40

OP please delete the review. As pps have said it could potentially be used by the defence. You really mustn't risk prejudicing the outcome of the case, which is now active as he has been charged.

Hoppinggreen · 15/05/2024 10:14

Bookworm1111 · 15/05/2024 08:40

I think you should remove the TA review. If your friend's case goes to court, the defence team will be looking for anything to discredit her to help their client. You complaining publicly about being charged for the rooms could play into a narrative that she's embellished her account to get freebies. I'm not saying that's what definitely would happen, but I wouldn't risk it and would take down the review and focus on your private complaint.

I agree.
I completely believe everything you say here but if there is any chance the mans defence could try and use the TA stuff it might be better to delete it all just in case.

sunglassesonthetable · 15/05/2024 10:06

So sorry OP. This sounds awful. And the Hotel's reaction is appalling.

sunglassesonthetable · 15/05/2024 10:03

I don't think trip advisor is the place for the argument. Your writing style is very odd.

@longdistanceclaraclara

Do posters like you literally lie in wait to put something rude/ridiculous as the first comment on a thread? I

Keep seeing this on MN.

Is it an underground competition ? You are very odd.

Moonpie6 · 15/05/2024 09:53

PunishmentSnart · 15/05/2024 09:37

Thornton Hall is awful. We went to view it as a wedding venue and the person (male) who showed us around was so odd. He at one point made a thinly veiled threat to suffocate our toddler 😨 This was over 10 years ago but I still won't go - every member of staff there gave me bad vibes!

No way really! Yep definitely will never ever ever go there.

Moonpie6 · 15/05/2024 09:52

ageratum1 · 15/05/2024 08:31

I am not really sure what the hotel did wrong? Surely it is incumbent on the guest to make sure their room is locked - I don't think the different locks argument holds water as long as there was a functioning lock of some kind.i can see that the hotel management/lawyers would think that 'comping' the room may suggest am admission, there was some fault on their part, and open them up to a lawsuit.
I don't think you have a leg to stand on, especially if you have no hard evidence of the receptionist saying this.

Wow.

Her friend has been sexually assaulted so I'm sure the last thing on her mind is trying to score some freebies.

Their curt response and attitude is disgusting so that's how their at fault.

If this had happened at my hotel I would not be charging them for a single thing and I certainly wouldn't respond to the TripAdvisor in such a disgusting manner.

Moonpie6 · 15/05/2024 09:48

SpoonyFish · 15/05/2024 07:41

That's awful. We were on a hen in the travel lodge in Liverpool years ago and a group of men were able to use their key card to open our room in the early hours of the morning while we were asleep. Once they realised their mistake (I think they were in same room but different floor) they left but it shook us up. We complained to reception the next morning. It's scary how this can happen and I'm so sorry for your friend.

Oh god which hotel was this? I will avoid.

PunishmentSnart · 15/05/2024 09:37

Thornton Hall is awful. We went to view it as a wedding venue and the person (male) who showed us around was so odd. He at one point made a thinly veiled threat to suffocate our toddler 😨 This was over 10 years ago but I still won't go - every member of staff there gave me bad vibes!

IdaPolly · 15/05/2024 09:15

The hotel sound horrible. In their reply to your review they've shown no concern for your friend or their incorrect doors. The fact they haven't denied either shows you are telling the truth.

Snackarooney · 15/05/2024 09:00

As soon as I seen Wirral I knew you it would be TH H&S
I am so sorry for the girl especially but all of you.

Had an issue once ourselves staying there but with a 4 week old baby and the door opened only our family and friends as at a wedding but people walked into our room and we couldn't stay the night I used the room to bf through the day and planned on staying but had to leave as there was no rooms available. Apparently nit one person in a wedding of over 200 people (not every person tried obviously but I'm just saying there was alot who did) mostly my family... not one of my husband, uncles, Aunts, dad, mum,cousins and none of the grooms side could lock a door it was just us 🤷🏼‍♀️ hotel were horrific with customer service. I don't actually know what you can do but I just had to let you know that I get in and how they are bullies and liars.

5128gap · 15/05/2024 09:00

StormingNorman · 14/05/2024 19:24

The hotel sounds like they handled it really badly but you should focus on your friend and presumably the court case.

The Trip Advisor stuff is petty bullshit.

If the OP has the resilience and head space to do so, she should focus on both. I highly doubt she is telling her traumatised friend to hush up while she concentrates on writing a trip adviser review, so there is no reason at all why she shouldn't be fighting to ensure this matter is shared with other women who may be thinking of booking this hotel. Far too many assaults are swept under the carpet, if the OP and her friends have the courage to bring this into the public domain I applaud them for it.

Bookworm1111 · 15/05/2024 08:58

YouOKHun · 15/05/2024 08:55

That hotel has an active Twitter/X feed. It would be my preferred method for getting public attention and a response out of a business. Obviously the caveat is your friend’s privacy and what she’s happy with and whether there is a current court case.

OP says the man has been charged, so proceedings are now active. It means anything written publicly about the case could prejudice it and reporting restrictions apply.

YouOKHun · 15/05/2024 08:55

That hotel has an active Twitter/X feed. It would be my preferred method for getting public attention and a response out of a business. Obviously the caveat is your friend’s privacy and what she’s happy with and whether there is a current court case.

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 15/05/2024 08:52

I would also look into suing them if I were your friend…

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