Grantham court: Man hit partner during Premier Inn row

The police were called when hotel guests heard a row between a couple become violent.

Adam Marc Tinkler, 37, of Houghton Road, Grantham, admitted assault by beating, following the incident at the Premier Inn in Grantham on December 19.

Prosecuting, Miss Marie Stace, told the court that police were called by the night porter at 2.50am after a number of guests complained about the disturbance.

Miss Stace said the relationship between Tinkler and his partner had been on and off. They had broken up in June and got back together in November.

On December 18 they went out together on his work Christmas do and they had booked a room at the hotel because she worked for the Premier Inn chain.

During the evening, Tinkler’s work colleagues made a few remarks about his partner and he became angry and aggressive. She came to his defence, but he left the bar, leaving her with his colleagues.

Half an hour later, she saw Tinkler in the street and he tried to get back in but door staff stopped him.

Miss Stace, said they met back at the hotel at 2.30am where he was angry and calling her names.

He punched her in the face with a clenched fist. She was shocked and scared and had been knocked to the floor. He grabbed her by the throat and she was dragged back up and hit again in the face. She believed she may have passed out.

Later, she went to A&E at Nottingham with bruising to her face and neck.

Guests at the hotel said the argument went on for 45 minutes. Thye heard thumping noises and the occasional dull thud. One guest said that they heard the victim shout ‘help me’ and another guest said she had become ‘hysterical’.

The court heard that when officers arrived they found the victim with blood around her nose and there were signs of disturbance in the room.

In a police interview, Tinkler said they had both had a significant amount to drink and that his colleagues had made some crude remarks. he said he left because he had reached his limit of drinking. In the hotel he said he had pushed her to the floor but he denied ever punching her. He said she fell backwards and hit the wall. He said they argued regularly when they had been drinking.

Miss Stace said the victim had asked for a restraining order against Tinkler.

Tinkler, who was not represented, cried in court and only said: “I was guilty”.

Magistrates adjourned the case to February 1 for a pre-sentence report. Tinkler was granted bail on condition he did not contact the victim or go to her address.