Killer felt judged by hotel staff - inquest

A hotel guest killed a receptionist during a psychotic episode because he felt "judged" when she smiled at him, an inquest has heard.

Stephen Cole, 32, launched a 42-minute assault on Marta Elena Vento, 27, who was on a solo night shift at the Travelodge in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, on 9 December 2020.

Cole subsequently told a psychiatrist he felt hotel staff saw him as inferior, although he had not planned the attack, the coroner was told.

The killer said he saw a girl behind the glass in reception and burst through her door, later explaining: "I didn't need her [swearword] smiling at me."

Ms Elena Vento died after being punched, kicked and attacked with hair clippers on her second shift at the hotel.

In 2021, Cole pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and was given an indefinite hospital order.

Giving evidence, consultant psychiatrist Dr John Sandford said he was asked by prosecutors to assess Cole's mental state to prepare for a possible trial.

He said the defendant told him he had run out of antipsychotic drugs and had not slept for six days before the attack.

In a report read by the coroner, Dr Sandford continued: "He said he felt that people at the Travelodge were looking down on him.

"He said: 'As soon as I came into reception, I knew they were judging me. My name was being passed around.'"

Cole said he had never seen Ms Elena Vento before the morning of the attack, it was heard.

The psychiatrist's report said: "He said he had no grudge or anger towards her. He did not explain why he had taken hair clippers down the stairs with him.

"She smiled at him as she looked through the glass."

Cole thought the smile meant: "Oh, there's that guy," the psychiatrist recorded.

Previously, the inquest was told the killer was released from HMP Winchester on 27 October 2020 with a four-week supply of the antipsychotic drug olanzapine.

A prison psychiatrist had noted: "His risk to others will have to be closely monitored as he has assaulted prisoners and staff in an unprovoked manner."

However, prison healthcare contractor PPG did not alert Cole's former GP about his release.

Dr Sandford said the lack of a referral led to Cole's likely deterioration when he ran out of medication.

He told the coroner: "He's quite unwell in prison... and he's quite violent. He's quite a risky guy so we need to make sure he's followed up."

The psychiatrist said Cole had a number of other "red flags", including a history of violence towards his family and sexual exposure offences.

Previously, the court heard Cole was seen by police and medical workers in the week before the fatal attack.

He was evicted from the Russell Court Hotel in Bournemouth on 4 December 2020 after allegedly attacking guests and security guards.

The following day, he was seen at a hospital and by paramedics, but was described as "calm".

A police officer who visited him at the Travelodge on 7 December reported that Cole thought fire alarms were spying on him.

On 8 December, his family, originally from Reading, called 999 and also took him to a GP as his mental health deteriorated, the Dorset coroner was told.

His father Roy Cole said the GP declined to renew a prescription for antipsychotic pills, leaving his son "crying" and "in the worst state I've ever seen him".

Dr Sandford said it was not usual for GPs to prescribe olanzapine, but it would have been logical to refer Cole to a mental health crisis team.

Ms Elena Vento's parents, from Valencia, Spain, are following the six-week Bournemouth inquest by video link.

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