Latest news with #CopthorneHotel
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Murder, rape and assault: The most common offences migrants living in taxpayer-funded hotels have been accused of
The shocking array of crime committed by migrants living in taxpayer-funded hotels can today be exposed by the Mail. Rape, murder and assault are among the offences at least 300 asylum seekers have been charged with in just three years – as well as arson, robbery, dangerous driving, fraud, possessing indecent images of children and supplying drugs. However, the true toll of migrant crime blighting neighbourhoods across Britain may be higher, given our investigation only looked at around 65 hotels known to have accommodated migrants as part of a £3billion Government scheme. Fuelled by the worsening small boats crisis in the Channel, up to 220 sites – including the four-star Copthorne Hotel near Gatwick – were needed to house asylum seekers at one point, many of whom arrived illegally on dinghies. Our analysis of court records reveals that assault (69) was the most common crime migrants were accused of, followed by theft (54). Drug-related offences (45), sexual assault (35) and weapon-related crimes, such as possession of a knife (31) rounded out the top five. Laying bare the astonishing scale of crime committed by migrants in hotels, the Mail last month separately revealed: A migrant who committed a horrific sex attack on an 'extremely vulnerable' teenage girl in a park in broad daylight was sentenced to 14 months in prison; A woman, 20, was dragged into the grounds of a church in Oxford and raped by a migrant housed at a hotel in the city; More than 90 criminal charges have been brought against migrants staying at just one hotel in central London – including a migrant convicted of an arson attack against the hotel; A migrant staying in a hotel in London's affluent Primrose Hill was convicted of vicious assaults on two female police officers and one male officer. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the revelations 'shocking' and said they exposed 'the risk posed by these illegal immigrants to the British public'. The Government does not publish data on crimes committed by asylum seekers and police reports rarely give the immigration status of defendants, meaning the scale of the migrant crime wave has, until now, been a mystery. The Mail's investigation scoured thousands of magistrate courts records and cross-referenced defendants' addresses with those of taxpayer-funded hotels that house asylum seekers. Armed with this, we were able to compile a dossier of hundreds of criminal charges. Migrants who have been convicted of offences are included in our database, as well as those who have been acquitted and those involved in ongoing court cases. Astonishingly, this is likely to be an underestimate because court records are often incomplete or missing. In one disturbing case, an asylum seeker strangled and tried to rape a woman in the female toilets at a nightclub in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Sudanese asylum seeker Ayman Adam, 25, who had been staying at the nearby four-star Cedar Court Hotel, was jailed for seven years last year after he followed the woman into the toilets at Truth and pushed her into the cubicle, pinning her over the toilet while he strangled her. In Oxford, a university student was sexually assaulted by asylum seeker Khaliz Alshimery late at night in a doorway in November 2023. The woman escaped but Alshimery, 47, followed her before dragging her into the churchyard at St Clement's Church and raping her. Alshimery, who was staying at a migrant hotel in the city, was last year jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of rape, sexual assault by penetration and three counts of sexual assault. A single hotel in central London – the Thistle City Barbican – saw 41 residents charged with a total of 90 offences in three years. Residents who live nearby told the Mail that police are regularly called to the three-star hotel, which has also been identified as a hub of illegal working. Earlier this summer, pictures emerged of migrants staying at the Thistle City Barbican riding off in Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats jackets with food bags, while electric bikes were seen outside. Chancellor Rachel Reeves earlier this summer vowed to finally end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by the next general election. Figures show £3.1billion was spent on housing asylum seekers in hotels in 2023-24. Around 30,000 are currently staying in hotels, which are typically turned over entirely to migrants, with normal custom turned away. Ministers keep their exact locations a secret over safety and privacy fears, although many have already been outed, including the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, where a coach full of suspected migrants was seen arriving last week. Footage of the passengers getting off the coach showed the majority were men, with the vast majority dressed in matching grey tracksuit tops and bottoms. They were helped by masked security guards, some of whom appeared to be wearing body cameras. Last year mobs surrounded asylum seekers' accommodation, and even threatened to burn them down, in the wake of the murder of three girls in Southport. In July, 100 demonstrators protested outside a migrant hotel in Epping, Essex. If their accommodation provides meals each asylum seeker gets £9.95 per week, this rises to £49.18 per week if no meals are provided. Extra money is also given to pregnant women and mothers of young children. Asylum seekers are also entitled to taxpayer-funded NHS healthcare, prescriptions, dental care and children under 18 are required to go to school, where they may be able to get free meals. What is an asylum seeker? Asylum is protection given by a country to someone fleeing from persecution in their own country. An asylum seeker is someone who has applied for asylum and is awaiting a decision on whether they will be granted refugee status. An asylum applicant who does not qualify for refugee status may still be granted leave to remain in the UK for humanitarian or other reasons. An asylum seeker whose application is refused at initial decision may appeal the decision through an appeal process and, if successful, may be granted leave to remain. To be eligible for asylum, the Home Office says: 'You must have left your country and be unable to go back because you fear persecution.' This could be based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or political opinion, or any other factor that places them at risk in their country. Only once asylum seekers are granted refugee status or another humanitarian cover are they allowed to work, study and claim benefits in the UK. Small boat arrivals now make-up nearly a third of all asylum claims, Government data shows. Others arrive through legal routes such as on a student visa before they lodge an application. In response to the original Mail analysis last month, the Home Office said: 'Removal of foreign national offenders is up by 14% since the last election. 'We're also taking action through our Border Security Bill to cancel the asylum claims of anyone convicted of a sex offence.' The Mail's analysis is likely to underestimate the true extent of some alleged crimes, because if someone is charged with two counts of the same crime on one rap sheet, we have only counted it as one to avoid cases of double counting. For example, if an individual was charged with two counts of assault and one of theft on the same rap sheet, we will have counted one assault and one theft. Similar crimes have been grouped together, such as attempted rape and rape being grouped as just rape, and driving offences, such as driving without insurance, driving without a licence, being grouped under 'driving offences'.
Otago Daily Times
04-08-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Convicted murderer guilty of historical sexual assault of child
WARNING: This story details the sexual violation of a young girl and might be distressing for some readers. A convicted murderer's past has caught up with him, revealing that he is also a sexual offender. Sydney Bristow, who was convicted of murder more than two decades ago, has now been found guilty of two charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection of a child he was caring for. The unrelated sexual offending occurred before he and others murdered Aucklander David Taylor in 1999, but has only recently been heard in court. At a judge-alone trial held at the Whangārei District Court earlier this year, the court heard that Bristow was 16 when he was left in charge of two young girls. That night, he twice sexually violated one of the girls. The victim, now an adult, gave evidence at the trial before Judge Gene Tomlinson, describing the sexual ordeal in detail. She said that after he violated her, Bristow approached her younger sister, but the victim intervened. As she stopped him from approaching her sister, she saw his face and was able to identify him as Bristow. It wasn't until many years later, when she saw Bristow again, that she had a visceral reaction to the trauma he had inflicted. At the trial, Bristow gave evidence that he was not in the area at the time of the sexual violation, and even if he was, he never babysat the girls, as there were plenty of adults who were relied upon. But in the reserved decision, delivered last week, Judge Tomlinson accepted the victim's evidence. He said in cases such as this, it was often a situation of 'he said, she said' but based on the victim's accurate and detailed evidence, it was Bristow who committed the offence. Judge Tomlinson entered convictions on two charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection. Bristow will be sentenced at a later date. Not long after the sexual violation, Bristow was involved in the murder of Taylor in the early hours of New Year's Day 1999 at Ōmapere. Bristow, then 17, Henare Wikaira, and Kacey Wikaira, who were also in their late teens at the time, had been drinking heavily at the Ōmapere Tourist Hotel, now known as the Copthorne Hotel. Later that evening, they were involved in disturbances at a nearby campsite. Around 1am, Taylor chased Kacey Wikaira out of the campground and down to the beach. When Taylor stopped to catch his breath, Henare Wikaira attacked him from behind, landing 'a good 20″ of his 'hardest' punches, he told police in a statement. Bristow joined in, striking Taylor with a Lion Red bottle and throwing fist-sized rocks at his head. Henare Wikaira then dropped a large rock – up to 70cm wide – on to Taylor's head. Taylor died in hospital a few days later. Bristow was convicted of the murder in 2000 and sentenced to life imprisonment but was released after serving the minimum 10-year non-parole period. The recent decision relating to the sexual violation stated he was recalled to prison in 2020 but did not mention the reason for the recall. SEXUAL HARMWhere to get help:If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:• Call 0800 044 334• Text 4334 • Email support@ • For more info or to web chat visit contact your local police station - click here for a list. If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.
NZ Herald
04-08-2025
- NZ Herald
Convicted murderer Sydney Bristow found guilty of historical sexual violation of young girl
At a judge-alone trial held at the Whangārei District Court earlier this year, the court heard that Bristow was 16 when he was left in charge of two young girls. That night, he twice sexually violated one of the girls. The victim, now an adult, gave evidence at the trial before Judge Gene Tomlinson, describing the sexual ordeal in detail. She said that after he violated her, Bristow approached her younger sister, but the victim intervened. As she stopped him from approaching her sister, she saw his face and was able to identify him as Bristow. Ōmapere beach, where David Taylor was killed by Sydney Bristow in 1999. Photo / Supplied It wasn't until many years later, when she saw Bristow again, that she had a visceral reaction to the trauma he had inflicted. At the trial, Bristow gave evidence that he was not in the area at the time of the sexual violation, and even if he was, he never babysat the girls, as there were plenty of adults who were relied upon. But in the reserved decision, delivered last week, Judge Tomlinson accepted the victim's evidence. He said in cases such as this, it was often a situation of 'he said, she said' but based on the victim's accurate and detailed evidence, it was Bristow who committed the offence. Judge Tomlinson entered convictions on two charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection. Bristow will be sentenced at a later date. Not long after the sexual violation, Bristow was involved in the murder of Taylor in the early hours of New Year's Day 1999 at Ōmapere. Bristow, then 17, Henare Wikaira, and Kacey Wikaira, who were also in their late teens at the time, had been drinking heavily at the Ōmapere Tourist Hotel, now known as the Copthorne Hotel. Later that evening, they were involved in disturbances at a nearby campsite. Around 1am, Taylor chased Kacey Wikaira out of the campground and down to the beach. When Taylor stopped to catch his breath, Henare Wikaira attacked him from behind, landing 'a good 20″ of his 'hardest' punches, he told police in a statement. Bristow joined in, striking Taylor with a Lion Red bottle and throwing fist-sized rocks at his head. Henare Wikaira then dropped a large rock – up to 70cm wide – on to Taylor's head. Taylor died in hospital a few days later. Bristow was convicted of the murder in 2000 and sentenced to life imprisonment but was released after serving the minimum 10-year non-parole period. The recent decision relating to the sexual violation stated he was recalled to prison in 2020 but did not mention the reason for the recall. Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/ Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.
Daily Mail
03-08-2025
- Daily Mail
We live next door to Britain's 'poshest migrant hotel' - it was a lovely place but it's out of bounds now
Locals living near what has been described as the UK's 'poshest' migrant hotel have spoken out after an expose revealed four-star luxury for asylum seekers. Jaw-dropping footage posted online showed the inside of the hotel with four poster beds, a lavish buffet style canteen and rooms containing PlayStations and computers. There also appeared to be evidence of drug taking, and beer cans also littered several rooms of the four-star Copthorne Hotel near Gatwick, West Sussex. The clip filmed by a contractor called Aston Knight, who worked there between October and December 2024, has been widely shared among nearby residents who have been left livid. Richard and Tina Shapland, who live over the road from the village green in the quintessential English village – which also has a pub, post office and golf club, expressed their outrage to the Daily Mail. Mr Shapland, 74, said: 'It's so intimidating for us, and it's frightening. I open my door and there are groups just standing on the green looking very suspicious. 'What also really annoys me is they just urinate wherever they are standing, right on the green and there are children playing there. 'It's just not on and we have complained but no one has done anything about it – our feelings are just being rode over roughshod.' Mrs Shapland, 68, said: 'We've heard all sorts of stories about them shoplifting, stealing apples from trees and vegetables from the allotment and people aren't happy. 'I opened my curtains once and I saw a group just standing there on the green urinating, and that's not what I want to see when I look on the green. 'No one seems to listen to us, and the feelings of local people aren't being taken into consideration at all, there is a lot of anger building up. 'I'm not saying they are all bad, but it comes to a point where people just urinate on the green or in the stream at the bottom and no one does anything about it.' On the local village Facebook page one resident posted about the footage: 'A very good video. Shows exactly what it is like in there and how they get treated. 'They get given everything and even have the audacity to complain!! Why wouldn't they come here? But it's nearly all single males. Very worrying. One local named Nick Kent, added: 'I think it wouldn't hurt if we were to hold a protest as I'm sure many of you agree I don't feel it's safe for the children any more.' His fears were echoed by Janine Eaglestone, 55, who lives nearby and who now locks her doors and windows at night after spotting groups of migrants peering over her wall. She said: 'I'm sure the majority are very nice but there are some that just make me feel very intimidated but not just me, also other women and especially the young girls. 'It's the summer and the younger ones are walking around in their short skirts and tops and you see groups of men just staring at them, and these are young girls, it's not right. 'We are thinking about holding a protest because it's just got too much, it's unnerving and especially for someone like me who lives on their own. 'I now lock my gate at night, and I never used and the windows as well and the time of year you want the windows open, but I won't because I just don't feel safe. 'Quite a few of the young girls, 12–13-year-olds have had issues, especially with groups that gather on the green and you can just see them staring and it's always at the women and girls.' Mrs Eaglestone added: 'The video that went round showing how they are living has really riled a lot of people – especially as when you think some in the village are on the breadline and relying on foodbanks.' Groups of the asylum seekers have been known to gather on the green drinking and smoking drugs until the early hours of the morning leaving mountains of litter when they go, according to locals whose houses look onto the area. One local the Daily Mail met walking his dog on the green and who refused to be named, said: 'It's such a shame what's happened to the (Copthorne) hotel, I've lived here for years, and it really used to be the place to go. 'Because of its location near the airport cabin crew would use it and then people playing at the golf club would also stay there, people with money to spend and it used to have a really good reputation. 'But now we can't get anywhere near it, there is security and fencing and it's also quite intimidating for people who are on the green walking their dogs. 'In the summer we used to get loads of kids here playing but now it's not as many and it's because parents are worried about who is on the green. 'I'm not racist and I have no problem with people genuinely trying to escape war or famine, but the problem is we just don't know who all these young men are.' Local businesses have also reported an increase in shoplifting with both Morrisons and the Premier store being targeted. A few weeks ago, more than £800 worth of chocolate was taken from Morrisons after one asylum seeker distracted an employee and another helped himself to several boxes. A source there said: 'It's crazy, they are fed and watered and then they come here and help themselves to boxes of chocolate and other bits and pieces, I can only think they sell it on somewhere. 'Some of them have also been pulling the old short change scam, where they pocket the fiver and claim they haven't been given the right change, and the shop has lost hundreds of pounds. House prices have also reportedly taken a hit in the area with Rightmove showing a nine per cent drop in the last year despite figures from the Office for National Statistics for the south east showing a rise of 4.6 per cent 'But the staff are young and mainly girls and they just don't want to argue with a couple of blokes who are much bigger than them saying they have made a mistake because they feel threatened.' Lily Gomez-Drader, 72, who was having her hair cut in the village salon, said: 'The mood of locals is one of growing anger, people have just had enough. 'We've lived here for years and used to go to the Copthorne to play squash and then have breakfast in the restaurant because it was really good but that's stopped now. 'If you speak to some of the residents who have lived here a while they will tell you what a lovely pace the hotel was for locals but it's out of bounds now.' House prices have also reportedly taken a hit in the area with Rightmove showing a nine per cent drop in the last year despite figures from the Office for National Statistics for the south east showing a rise of 4.6 per cent. The four-star Copthorne hotel – which is a 16th century farmhouse - is part of the Millenium hotel and has been housing asylum seekers for more than four years and a message on its website says it is 'not accepting reservation requests'. A review describes it being just five minutes from Gatwick Airport although it 'feels a world away' with more than 100 acres of nearby woodland and 227 rooms and it was also used as a quarantine hotel during Covid. One of the last reviews six years ago from when the site was used as a hotel was from an airline employee who said: 'We had a relaxing 24 hour stay here. 'Despite the large number of rooms, the place was pervaded with a sense of tranquillity. The staff were helpful and kind. Very nice indeed.' While another said: ' We had a Christmas do there. I have to say it was amazing, the food was really nice, and the service couldn't have been better.'
Wales Online
16-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Hotel to re-open after four years as temporary accommodation
Hotel to re-open after four years as temporary accommodation The Copthorne Hotel in Culverhouse Cross housed asylum seekers before being used as temporary accommodation for homeless families in Cardiff The Copthorne Hotel will reopen to the public next week (Image: Google Maps ) A hotel in Cardiff has announced it will be reopening to the public after being closed for almost four years to house families in need of housing. The Copthorne Hotel in Culverhouse Cross initially closed in the summer of 2021 to house asylum seekers and then in 2023 to house homeless families in Cardiff. The hotel has now announced it will be reopening to the public on Monday, May 19, with refurbishments made to the rooms, restaurant, and bar and a new menu. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here . With 135 bedrooms the hotel was used by the Home Office to house people applying for asylum within the UK in 2021 after a short time being open since the Covid-19 pandemic. Since around 2020 there has been an increase in the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels across the UK due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and public health measures, an increase in the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats, and a backlog in unresolved asylum cases. Although the Copthorne Hotel is in the Vale of Glamorgan Cardiff council was able to use the facilities as it faced an "unprecedented demand for homeless services". In September 2023 Cardiff Council began welcoming families in need of temporary accommodation into the hotel before they could be moved into permanent housing. Article continues below In 2023 when the council began using the venue a spokesman told WalesOnline: "Cardiff, like cities around the country, is experiencing an unprecedented demand for homeless services with a very high number of people seeking our help. "Our temporary accommodation provision is full so we are constantly looking for opportunities to increase capacity. The Copthorne Hotel is one such opportunity and securing its use as temporary accommodation will allow us to help families experiencing homelessness in Cardiff until more suitable accommodation can be found. "The Copthorne represents better value for money than using hotels on an ad hoc reactive basis and it will allow us to provide better service to homeless families. At present the very high level of demand means that this hotel accommodation is needed." Now after years of being closed to the public the Copthorne Hotel Cardiff is "delighted" to be reopening and inviting people to stay at the hotel once again. They wrote: "We're delighted to announce that Copthorne Hotel Cardiff-Caerdydd will officially reopen its doors on Monday, May 19. "After a thoughtful refresh, we're ready to welcome you back with the warm hospitality you know and love — now with revitalised spaces and enhanced service." Article continues below However the gym and pool facilities that were once on offer are closed "until further notice" according to the hotel.
