Sexual assault during hotel stay

[Tripadvisornotloading]

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

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.

So he's appeared in court but hasn't entered a plea or been found guilty yet or been sentenced? As we see every day in the media, even the most 'cut and dry' evidence can be twisted in court, especially in cases of sexual violence against women. His defence will be looking for ANYTHING to mitigate his actions, which is why posting negative reviews citing the assault isn't wise. His team could imply your group had an agenda to secure a freebie your visit and he went along with it. Obviously total bollocks, but once it's said in court it's on the record. So I would hold off complaining publicly until he's been convicted and sentenced, so you're not giving the defence any ammo beforehand.

Is your review factual though? Have you had a specialist examine every single door in the establishment to prove they don't have "legally required doors"? Because that's the kind of statement the hotel could argue is potentially defamatory, rather than the actual row about payment.

That’s not what I’ve said though, is it:
Ive stated one of our doors did slam locked and the other didn’t. I didn’t make comment about every single door not locking, I wouldn’t as that’s not factual.

That's not what the posted review now says – I wonder if TA has edited it?! Unless it's another review by someone else who experienced the same thing, the first line is: "Hotel don’t have legally required doors…" Nothing about one door slamming locked the other one not.

Sorry, meant to say I looked up the review to see the hotel's response.

Screenshot the photos you want so they are recent in your camera roll

No matter what I do, once I get on TA they’re not there 😤 I may need to try and log on from a laptop or something.

It's not willing interfering with a case naming the place where a crime that is subject to court action took place. It happens in nearly every investigation of criminal activity and every report of a court case. There is nothing in that post that is prejudicial to a fair trial. You are actually permitted to say the truth and nobody has been named.

Honestly I shake my head at the nonsense a lot of lay non legally qualified MNs churn out on here to have a go and dig at OPs. This being a prime thread example.

It wont prejudice a trial from what has been put on here and TR, its not defamatory if its factual and the defence certainly dont go round looking for "everything" to get people off.
A lot of people on here watch too many US crime shows me thinks 🤣