Hotel staff handed room key to abuser, leading to assault

A woman checking into a Travelodge in London

A woman checking into a Travelodge in London to escape her domestic abuser was instead attacked by him after reception staff provided him with a key to her room without verification.

The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, told the BBC that she had booked the stay as a "night away from the fear," but the man tracked her down. Upon arriving at the hotel, he approached the front desk and was given a key to her room, despite not being registered as a guest.

Shortly after, he entered the room and physically assaulted her. The incident is the latest in a series of complaints against Travelodge, where keys have been handed over to individuals without proper checks, raising serious concerns about guest safety.

A spokesperson for Travelodge expressed regret over the

A spokesperson for Travelodge expressed regret over the incident, stating that an internal review is underway and that they are cooperating with the police. They emphasized that staff are trained to verify identification and guest registration, but acknowledged that in this instance, procedures were not followed.

The victim is now calling for stricter protocols to protect vulnerable guests, urging hotels to adopt mandatory identity checks before issuing any key. She hopes that by speaking out, she can prevent others from experiencing similar dangers.

Police have confirmed that they are investigating the assault and have offered support to the victim. No arrests have been made so far, but inquiries are ongoing.