Man tried to murder partner in hotel room during weekend break

A man tried to murder his partner in a brutal attack in a hotel room during a weekend break in Edinburgh.

Sean Hendry attacked the woman at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa after they went to their room following dinner and drinks.

Advocate depute Alan Cameron KC told the High Court in Edinburgh: “In the room, some time after midnight, the accused became increasingly angry and aggressive towards the complainer, accusing her of sending messages to other men.”

“She indicated that she wanted to leave but he got on top of her as she sat on the bed, placed both hands around her neck and then put his fingers down her throat. As a result she could not breathe and was gasping for air,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Cameron said: “After a time he took a pillow and pressed it down onto her face. This again restricted her breathing and she thought that she was going to lose consciousness, although she did not do so. She describes everything ‘going blurry’ and her recollection of the incident becoming confused.”

The 29-year-old repeatedly punched his victim on the head and body during the assault and said: “We are both going to die tonight” and “I’m going to slit your throat”.

The prosecutor said: “The complainer was in fear for her life, particularly at the times that her breathing was restricted.”

Hendry broke off the attack and went to a window indicating that he intended to jump from it and the victim escaped into the hall and began screaming for help.

A couple in another room were awakened and contacted hotel security before opening the door to the hall where they saw the victim sitting on the floor, crying and obviously injured. Hendry was shouting at her and “acting erratically”, said Mr Cameron.

The man tried to calm Hendry down, but he walked away and the attack victim was brought into the couple’s room. Hendry began banging on the door of the couple’s room and the injured victim begged them not to let him in.

Hotel staff arrived and found Hendry in the corridor. The prosecutor said: “He was obviously intoxicated and acting in an erratic manner. He was escorted back to his own room and kept there until the arrival of police officers.”

Mr Cameron said Hendry made repeated comments that he would “get the jail” for what he had done to the victim. He was arrested and taken to a police station where he was charged with assault.

He was released on an undertaking to attend Edinburgh Sheriff Court the following month, with a special condition attached that he did not contact the victim or enter the street where she lived.

But within hours of his release Hendry phoned her demanding his bank card. She told him she would give it to his friend and ended the call. He then turned up at the victim’s home address in Clackmannanshire and threatened to smash his way in with a vodka bottle.

The victim was at home with friends and one of them called for an ambulance as she suffered a panic attack. Police were alerted and Hendry was later traced and arrested.

He claimed: “I had no choice but to get my bank card back. I had no way to pay my taxi.”

Hendry, a prisoner in Edinburgh, admitted attempting to murder the woman on February 22 this year at the Sheraton Grand, at Festival Square, Edinburgh, by repeatedly striking her on the head and body, putting his hands around her neck, his fingers down her throat and holding a pillow over her face to her injury and the danger of her life.

He also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive way at the hotel and in Alloa, on the same date and failing to comply with conditions not to attend at the address in Alloa and not to contact the victim.

Mr Cameron said Hendry and the victim were in a relationship for about two and a half years at the time of their weekend away at the hotel.

The court heard that Hendry, a roughcaster, has previous convictions, including for violent and public order offences.

Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin KC said Hendry realised he was going to receive a “substantial” prison sentence for his latest offending.

The judge, Lord Renucci, adjourned sentencing on him for the preparation of a background report and risk assessment. He is due to be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on January 6.