Travelodge failed sex assault victim 'at every stage'

A woman who was sexually assaulted by a man given a key to her hotel room was "fundamentally failed" by Travelodge "at every stage", an independent review has found.

Barrister Paul Greaney KC said the chain's security policies at the time of the attack at its Maidenhead hotel in December 2022 were "not fit for the purpose of keeping guests safe".

He found guests were still not as safe as they should be, with room intrusions reported at nearly one in 10 Travelodge hotels this summer, and no policy in place on violence against women and girls.

Travelodge apologised "unreservedly" to the woman. The review did credit the company with making changes since March.

Kyran Smith, who obtained the key by falsely claiming to be the woman's boyfriend, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years in January.

The review found he was handed the key less than three minutes after approaching the reception desk, by a receptionist who had received no training in key security.

Greaney said blame rested with Travelodge as an organisation rather than with individual staff, and a culture had developed in which room intrusions were regarded as "one of those things".

The woman emailed a complaint to Travelodge in January 2023, addressed to chief executive Jo Boydell and others.

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