Man jailed for hammer attack at London hotel
A man who attempted to bludgeon three sisters to death in a London hotel has been jailed for at least 18 years.
Philip Spence, 33, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of three counts of attempted murder following the attack at the four-star Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch in April.
The court heard that Spence snuck into the hotel room where the sisters were sleeping with their children and beat them with a claw hammer, which he later threw away close to the hotel after escaping from the room with a haul including jewellery and iPads.
Spence, from Harlesden in north-west London, had admitted attacking the three sisters, who were visiting London from the United Arab Emirates, but denided attempted murder.
However, he hit one of his victims, 34-year-old Ohoud Al-Najjar, with suchch force her skull split open.
She was left with only 5% brain function. Her sisters also received life-threatening injuries and require ongoing medical attention.
Spence, who was spotted on CCTV footage examining the stolen items on a bus, was sentenced to life in prison and told he must serve a minimum of 18 years.
He has 37 previous convictions for 62 offences dating back to 1993 including theft, drug offences, grievous bodily harm, robbery and burglary.
His accomplice in the Cumberland Hotel attack, Neofitos "Thomas" Efremi, 57, from Islington, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and sentenced to 14 years.
James Moss, 34, of Hanley Road, north London, who pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, was given a 21 month sentence, suspended for two years.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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