Man forced entry to asylum hotel and caused damage

A man caused "significant damage and distress" after forcing his way into a hotel housing asylum seekers, police have said.

Jake Holder, of Denham in Buckinghamshire, was handed a suspended prison sentence at Chichester Crown Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to charges including affray, burglary and criminal damage.

Surrey Police said officers were called to The Stanwell Hotel, near Heathrow Airport, on 30 September after Holder jumped over a fence and aggressively "forced his way into the hotel".

Holder started to "violently smash crockery", throw items at walls and TVs and rip down banister posts, according to police.

The force said he was "shouting aggressively at hotel staff" throughout and "frightening them with a fire extinguisher", before he hurled homophobic abuse at an officer.

He was arrested and taken to custody, where police said he kicked an officer.

Insp Matt Walton said that Holder caused significant damage and distress during his "rampage".

"He inflicted thousands of pounds' worth of damage to the property and his threatening behaviour left people at the hotel feeling intimidated and fearful," Walton said.

Protests took place outside The Stanwell Hotel after the government decided to move families seeking asylum out of the hotel and to replace them with single men seeking asylum.

Holder's actions occurred early in the morning and were not connected to any organised protest, police said.

Walton added that the "overwhelming majority" of protests had been peaceful but officers "will not hesitate to use our powers to address and prevent criminal behaviour" where significant damage, disorder or disruption occurred.

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