Hotel Assault: Bathrooms Boss Risks Flushing Relationship

Court Date: Richard Sharp & Natalie Robb

A luxury bathrooms entrepreneur split his partner’s eyebrow open during a drunken late-night hotel room attack, a court heard.

Richard Sharp, 39, boss of Leeds-based Phoenix Bathrooms - which recently enjoyed an £11m annual turnover - struck after the couple attended a party.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting mum-of-two Natalie Robb, causing her actual bodily harm, at the Waverley Inn, Weybridge on May 13, last year.

She has stood by Sharp, arriving alongside him at Chichester Crown Court, where he received eight months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

The court heard Managing Director Sharp, of Old Lane, Drighlington, Bradford and Natalie returned to their hotel room at approximately 1.30am to drink more Prosecco.

Prosecutor Ms Adele Pullarp said Natalie found Sharp to be “loud and cocky” and when she saw a smashed glass on the floor he claimed she was responsible. 

“He said she did it and he hit her. She does not recall how many times he struck her, but it was more than once.

“She screamed out in a lot of pain and could see Mr Sharp hitting himself and she took the lift down to the reception area.

“The police and ambulance service were called and Ms Robb was taken to hospital with bruising and swelling and a laceration to her left eyebrow,

“There was also bruising to the hand she raised to protect her face during the assault.”

Sharp was arrested when police officers went up to the hotel room.

“He said he only swung to stop Ms Robb hitting him and struck her in the face,” added Ms Pullarp.

“There was more than one blow. She describes being hit more than once and a member of hotel staff described her as being very distressed and hysterical.”

Ms Robb withdrew her victim impact statement and wrote a letter to the court, resulting in the Crown Prosecution Service not applying for a restraining order against Sharp contacting her.

“Ms Robb is here today and sits in the public gallery,” said Mr Lawrence Selby, defending. “If a sentence of immediate imprisonment is passed she and their children and the employees of the business will suffer.

“He is desperate to seek help to find out how this started and how to ensure it is never repeated.

Richard Sharp & Natalie Robb arriving at court

“There is a cry for help from him and Ms Robb,” added the lawyer, describing his client as a “very lucky man” for continuing to enjoy his partner’s support.

“Ms Robb has written an extremely magnanimous letter to the court,” announced Recorder John Hardy KC. 

“I see Mr Sharp has made an undertaking to the Family Court that he will not consume alcohol while in the company of his children or twenty-four hours before.

“This was an unpleasant and unjustified episode of domestic violence towards your loving partner, who is still loving towards you,” he told Sharp.

“In her letter she notes your behaviour towards her, your children and the world in general has improved.

“That letter speaks volumes for her character. She is not the kind of victim of domestic violence who says ‘I forgive him’ as she is realistic and still wants you to contribute as a father to the children.

“I can step back from the brink of an immediate custodial sentence.”

Sharp was also ordered to complete 150 hours Community Service, plus ten sessions of a Probation Service-imposed rehabilitation activity requirement and pay £150 costs.

Glazing Boss Smashed Employee In Face

Binger arriving at Chichester Crown Court

A glazing firm boss punched a veteran employee to the floor after accusing him of dishonestly swindling fuel, a court heard today.

Glazier Rory Binger, 46, owner of Banstead Glass & Glazing Services, continued pummelling the grandfather as he curled up in an attempt to defend himself.

At Chichester Crown Court he was fined £1,000, with £500 costs and ordered to pay £500 compensation to victim Ian Brown.

Binger, of Outwood Lane, Chipstead pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Brown, causing him actual bodily harm, on October 3, last year at the Epsom location.

“There was a dispute and this defendant accused Mr Brown of stealing fuel and confronted him about the theft,” prosecutor Mr Dan Santos Costa told the court.

“This resulted in an argument and Mr Brown pushed Binger away and the defendant responded by punching him twice to the head, causing him to fall to the floor.

“The fight continued on the floor and was recorded on CCTV and the prosecution case is that Binger continued punching Mr Brown.

“Binger also pushed away a witness that tried to intervene and he continued punching Mr Brown.

“Mr Brown was curled up in the foetal position and was quite defenceless at the time.

“He suffered no breaks or fractures, but Mr Brown received two fairly thick black eyes and swelling around his eyes.”

Binger always described his actions as “excessive self-defence” after Mr Brown became physical during the row.

In his victim impact statement Mr Brown - who suffers chronic obstructive airways disease - confirmed that he has known Binger for thirty years and considered him a friend.

He has now been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has signed-off work with disability for three years.

A particularly stressful consequence of the assault was the reluctance of Mr Brown’s grandchild to come near him due to the bruising and swelling to his face.

“Mr Binger acted entirely out of character,” said Lyle Thompson, defending.

Recorder John Hardy KC told Binger: “It is always sad to see a man before the Crown Court who is a hard-working family man, running his own business and generally speaking is a decent member of society.

“On that day you had a dispute with Mr Brown and whether that was justified or not is nothing to the point, but the red mist descended and you punched him to the ground and continued punching.”

Afghan Resettled In UK Accused Of Littlehampton Park Sex Attack On 14 Year-Old Dog-Walker

Crawley Magistrates' Court

A young Afghani immigrant - allowed into the UK under the Armed Forces resettlement scheme - appeared in court yesterday, accused of molesting a 14 year-old girl walking the family dog in a Littlehampton park.

Gulahmad Oryakhail, 21, is said to have forced his hands under the young teenager’s bra and between her legs near the tennis courts in Maltravers Leisure Park.

He appeared in custody at Crawley Magistrates’ Court, where he was sent to Lewes Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on November 26.

He is charged with sexually assaulting the girl on October 25 and with stalking her between October 25 and October 27.

Oryakhail, of Fairlight Court, Pier Road, Littlehampton, who works part-time in a local Wimpy bar, obtained UK residency via his brother, who assisted the British Armed Forces, enabling the entire family to settle in the UK.

In 2021 the UK government agreed that Afghan citizens, who had served with or assisted our Armed Forces, were entitled to permanent residency under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy.

Their application can also include a partner, dependent children and additional family members and as of November, 2023 there were still over 2000 eligible Afghans in the queue for UK residency. 

The court heard he repeatedly kissed the schoolgirl on the lips and neck, while asking for sex and tried to drag her towards a more secluded area.

Long-haired and bearded Oryakhail, who required the assistance of an interpreter, had been riding his bike in the park and will contest the charges.

Prosecutor Mr Jeremy King said Oryakhail then bombarded the complainant with message to her phone over the next two days and was arrested near her home address.

He has been in the UK for twelve months and lives with his parents.

The girl’s family were on the look-out for Oryakhail and were described by Mr King as “angry and agitated” when police arrived to arrest him.

The prosecutor asked for the young Afghani to remain in custody because: “He would be a real risk to vulnerable young people in the area.”

He also asked for the remand for Oryakhail’s own protection from the girl’s family, but the magistrates emphasised this was not the reason they agreed he should remain in custody.

Oryakhail claims the girl told him she was 18 year-old and consented to sexual contact with him and voluntarily gave him her phone number.

Violent Shoplifter Banned From Square Mile

A persistent shoplifter, who targeted stores in the City of London, has been banned from entering the Square Mile.

Lennox Adler, 44, has been slapped with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), which prohibits him physically entering the City for the next two years.

He received six weeks imprisonment when he appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Adler was guilty of thefts from Tommy Hilfiger and Holland and Barrett of items worth £383.

He was also convicted of assaulting a shop worker.

Detective Sergeant Helen Bentley, of the City of London Police, said: “We hope that this will give reassurance to businesses, retail staff and also shoppers, as well as act as a deterrent to others thinking of criminal activity.

“We take such offences very seriously and this is a warning that we will bring those committing crimes in the City to justice.”

Alder was convicted of two counts of theft from premises, totalling £383.

Just What CPFC Chairman Steve Parish Wants............Three Points!

A driver was caught behind the wheel of CPFC Chairman Steve Parish’s Ferrari steering with his forearms while on his mobile phone.

The Premier League club’s supremo was not in the supercar at the time, which was pulled over on Victoria Embankment by the River Thames.

Mason Michael Wright, 26, who lives in Grade II Stondon Massey House, Ongar Road, Stondon Massey, Essex failed to appear at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court.

He was convicted after a short trial in his absence to driving the blue electric-powered three-litre 2023 Ferrari on February 6, without having the sportscar under proper control.

Wright was not charged with an offence of driving while using his mobile phone, which carries twice as many penalty points.

Meanwhile Parish's team are still seeking their first league win of the season.

Prosecutor Fiona Hamilton told the court: “The defendant was seen driving while steering with his forearms and while holding a phone out in front of him.

“He was seen by a police officer and stopped and when asked of he thought his manner of driving was in proper control of the vehicle agreed it was not.

“The Crown do not have to prove he was not in control, but was not in a position to be in control.

“Not holding the steering wheels with his hands and holding the phone meant that he was not able to properly see potential hazards in the road ahead and was not in proper control of the steering wheel.”

PC Fareed Sakavloo told the trial he was on patrol, riding a pedal bike.

“I like to view the traffic and have a hunch when a driver is on the phone.

“I noticed a blue Ferrari and when I cycled up a young lad was steering with his forearms in slow-moving traffic.

“I spoke to the driver and pulled him to the side of the road and he agreed he was using his phone, he said: ‘Yes, sorry sir.’

“I asked him if he thought he was in control of the car and he replied: ‘No.’ 

“We were at the side of the road for around fifteen minutes.”

The magistrates fined Wright £660, with £85 costs and ordered him to pay a £264 victim surcharge.

He also received three penalty points on his driving licence.

Wimbledon Tennis Bodyguard To Serve Eight Years For Rape Bid

Behind Bars: Harrison

A Wimbledon tennis tournament players’ bodyguard has been jailed for molesting and trying to rape a female colleague after the pair enjoyed drink and cocaine into the early hours.

Phillip Harrison, 33, stripped and climbed into the sleeping woman’s bed, groped her between the legs and climbed on top of her despite her continued objections.

At Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court the former Royal Engineers Lance Corporal received eight years imprisonment.

Father-of-one Harrison, of Littlewood Close, Browney, Durham fought the charges, but was unanimously found guilty of attempted rape, plus a count of assault by penetration.

Security Industry Authority (SIA)-registered close protection operative Harrison described himself to the jury as: “High, horny and arrogant,” the night he bombarded the victim with flirtatious texts.

They were both housed at the University of Roehampton student halls of residence, where on June 30, last year they consumed drink and drugs into the early hours.

“You lied and deceived reception staff to give you a keycard to access her room,” Judge Sarah Plaschkes KC told him. “You undressed and got into her bed and touched her intimately.

“She said ‘no’ repeatedly and asked you to leave. You repeatedly put your hand between her legs and ignored her wishes and continued to touch her.

“She rolled over to protect her body and you sat on top of her and she kept her legs shut and squirmed to stop you.”

Harrison left her room at 11.40am and sent a series of texts, begging the victim not to report him, suggesting her cocaine use would be exposed and destroy her career.

“You gaslit her and falsely claimed you would all lose your jobs and you falsely claimed she was being extremely flirtatious and enticed you to her room.

“You have lied and tried to blame the victim and this incident has had a significant impact on her confidence in personal and professional life.

Looking At Serving A Long Stretch: Harrison

“There was some degree of planning by you obtaining her room key and you supplied her with Class A drugs.

“You used every manipulative means, including threats, to prevent her reporting the offence.

“You intended to commit rape and very nearly succeeded and the trigger was your sense of sexual entitlement.

“She was not sexually interested in you and made that clear,” the judge told Harrison. “However, you would not take no for an answer.”

Harrison sent a total of sixteen texts before returning to the victim’s room, after writing: ‘I’m coming for a cuddle.’

“Afterwards you tried to pass it off as over-enthusiasm.”

Harrison begged the victim: ‘I beg that it stays between us.’ ‘Please don’t do this to me. I will lose everything.’ ‘I have a small daughter. You hold my life in your hands.’ 

Earlier that evening Harrison paid £100 for cocaine outside The Angel pub, where many of the close protection officers, including the victim, were drinking, following Wimbledon’s qualifying tournament.

They returned to her room with another male colleague, where the woman twice rebuffed Harrison’s advances when he tried to kiss her.

After leaving her room Harrison bombarded her with flirtatious texts, which she ignored and the woman went to sleep.

“I woke up to Phil in my bedroom. He was in bed with me naked,” she told the police in a video-recorded interview.

“I said: ‘What the f*** are you doing in my bedroom?’ and the next thing he was beside me.

“He just kind of laughed it off a little bit. He undressed and climbed into bed with me.

“He was kissing my back, neck and ears and was putting his hand on my breast and between my legs a few times and he kept trying to put his hand between my legs.

“He tried to push hard further between my legs around five times and was saying he was really horny.

“I told him to leave and he said I was moody. I rolled over onto my stomach so the mattress was protecting most of the parts of my body and he sat on top of me.”

Earlier Harrison had texted: ‘Filth don’t come into it.’ ‘Let me tease and please you like never before’ and ‘Give into temptation.’

He also tried to tempt her with more cocaine and also texted: ‘I’m coming for a cuddle. LMAO.’

After trying to rape her Harrison wrote: ‘FFS I can’t believe I came into your room. Obviously out of control,’ ‘OMFG what a mess I was in’ and ‘I’m sorry if I was OTT.’

Yesterday, prosecutor Bartholomew O’Toole told the court: “There was encouragement of the use of drugs and planning, with multiple texts in the hours before.

“The emotional pressure and threats regarding her career are also aggravating circumstances.”

In one text Harrison wrote to the victim: “We’ll all get the boot for being high and be blacklisted in the industry.” 

In her victim impact statement the woman said: “I felt during the trial that I was being attacked by the female defence barrister.

“What Phil did made me question my life in many ways. I always thought I was a strong and independent woman in a male-dominated industry, but now question myself.

“If I cannot look  after myself then I am kidding myself that I can look after others.

“I was working at Wimbledon, a role I really enjoyed, but now feel I cannot go back there ever again.

“I’ve been getting flashbacks when I go to bed and go to sleep and feel Phil is in my room and is going to attack me again.

“Nothing could prepare me for what I had to endure in court. The cross-examination scarred me as much as the incident.

“I feel so much safer knowing now he is in prison and I will not be assigned another job with him.

“I am grateful he will not be able to do this to anyone else. He violated me and lied about it.”

Lucy Organ, defending, submitted: “Both of them were using drugs and alcohol, but it was not to facilitate the offence.

“It is not accepted there were threats or blackmail regarding reporting the offence.

“Mr Harrison has not worked since his arrest and has lost his career as a result of this conviction.”

Harrison was arrested at a hotel three weeks after the offences and remained on bail until the jury unanimously convicted him after a seven-day trial.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.