Frustrated night porter went on £94,000 rampage through hotel
A night porter caused almost £100,000 of damage in a rampage through Larkfield Priory hotel in Kent after he became frustrated with covering roles he wasn't trained for.
Edward Woods, 49, pleaded guilty to damaging 21 windows, six doors, two fridges, an oven, a breakfast table, computer screens, Covid-19 barriers and three beer pumps in the early hours of 25 July 2021. The damage to the 19th century country house hotel was said to total £94,000.
Speaking outside court, Woods said: "It came about after a number of incidents which built up and I lost it. It's completely out of character for me to do something like that; anyone I know or worked with at the hotel will tell you that.
"I'm just a night porter and had been asked to do things I wasn't trained for, such as covering for a chef, and staff weren't treated well. It all just built up and I had enough."
Woods claimed he received a warning from management for refusing to charge NHS workers, who were staying at the hotel during the Covid-19 crisis, £1 to use a plate for their lunch.
He was also critical of the hotel's response to negative comments on review sites, claiming they would promise visitors staff would be "reprimanded".
Woods, of Maidstone, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property over the value of £5,000 when he appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 20 October.
He also pleaded guilty to causing £2,500 of damage to a 2021-plate Ford Fiesta belonging to hotel manager Prasanna Kirubakaran.
Woods disputed the £94,000 cost of the damage, submitted by the hotel's management, and asked for an independent assessment.
He is due to be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.
Woods was granted bail until then on condition he doesn't contact the victim, or visit the hotel.
By Stephen Beech and Sean McPolin
Image: Google Streetview
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