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.