What was supposed to be a joyful evening for a couple marking two major milestones — 40 years of marriage and the husband’s cancer all-clear — ended in chaos at a riverside hotel restaurant in Dorset.
Their special dinner at the Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa in Christchurch quickly spiraled into something they would never forget for all the wrong reasons.
A Stranger’s Unwelcome Advances
In the middle of their meal, 44-year-old Samantha Williamson, who had already been drinking heavily, staggered over from the bar.
Without warning, she plonked herself onto the man’s lap and made an inappropriate remark.
Shocked, he immediately pushed her off, while his wife angrily told Williamson to leave them alone.
But instead of walking away, Williamson lashed out.
She knocked drinks and a candle from the table, spilling them over the wife, before things escalated even further.
From Awkward to Aggressive
When the man tried to move her away, the pair ended up tumbling to the floor.
In a fit of rage, Williamson spat at him and scratched him hard enough to draw blood.
Witnesses described her behavior as if she was “possessed,” leaving the couple shaken and distressed in what should have been a calm, celebratory setting.
Celebration Shattered
The couple later revealed how the incident completely ruined their £1,200 weekend getaway.
Instead of enjoying their anniversary and celebrating good health, they were left traumatised.
“We’ll never go back to that area again,” the husband said.
“It’s not how we imagined celebrating such important news.”
Adding insult to injury, he claimed that when police were called, Williamson was simply taken home rather than arrested — something he strongly felt would not have happened if the roles were reversed.
Courtroom Confessions and Regret
Williamson eventually admitted one charge of sexual assault.
Her lawyer explained that she had been overwhelmed after learning her partner planned to relocate, and she had drowned her emotions in alcohol.
He described her as remorseful, embarrassed, and deeply regretful of what happened, stressing her struggles with past trauma, alcohol, and mental health.
Judge’s Response
District Judge Paul Booty acknowledged the distress she caused the couple, calling the incident both serious and “very unpleasant.”
However, instead of sending her to jail, he sentenced Williamson to a six-month community order with a nighttime curfew and ordered her to pay £1,000 in compensation.
Still Seeking Justice
For the victim and his wife, the court outcome didn’t feel like enough.
The man later said he is considering a private prosecution for the assault, frustrated that the sexual assault was the only charge pursued.
“If that had been me, I would have been locked up overnight,” he remarked, pointing to what he sees as double standards in how the case was handled.
