A Newcastle hotel guest who shocked staff by leaving his room 'covered in blood' with glass 'all over' the carpet claimed to have no memory of causing the damage
11:07, 29 Nov 2025
A guest who "trashed" a hotel room by ripping out the air conditioning and leaving blood on the floors and walls has claimed to have no memory of causing the damage.
The Crowne Plaza, a hotel in Newcastle's city centre, maintained that Alexander Sweeney caused £3,000-worth of damage when he stayed in one of their rooms, although he claims it was a lot less.
A court heard that, upon entering the hotel room, a manager found blood on the floors and walls and a framed picture that had been smashed, with glass all over the carpet. She also found that an air conditioning control unit had been ripped from the wall, a light had been damaged, and the curtains had been pulled off the railings, Chronicle Live reported.
Sweeney, 32, was arrested, but later claimed to have no memory of the evening.
He pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Newcastle Magistrates' Court and has this week been ordered to pay £400 compensation and a £150 fine.
Clare Haswell, prosecuting, told the court that staff at the hotel had been made aware of a disturbance between Sweeney and his partner in the early hours of September 21 this year.
She said: "The manger was told that the defendant was covered in blood. Staff inspected his room and saw it was severely damaged and there was blood on the floor and walls. A Framed picture was smashed, so there was glass all over the room, an air conditioning control unit had been pulled off the wall and damaged and a light was damaged and the bulb had been pulled out.
"Curtains had also been pulled down and ripped from the railings and there was a smashed drinks glass also."
Peter Doherty, defending, said: "I don't think the value of the damage is £3,000 like the hotel are claiming - we've not seen any evidence of that. He's pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and he is remorseful."
District Judge Paul Currer told Sweeney when ordering him to pay the compensation and fine: "For one reason or another, you were injured and caused damage to the room. All aspects of the room were damaged, by blood or breakages, but I think £3,000-worth is a bit unbelievable."