...By Roland Peterson for TDPel Media.
A hotel guest staying at the South Hilton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, was reportedly sexually assaulted by a man who had allegedly broken into his room and was sucking his toes while he was asleep.
The incident occurred on March 30 at 5am, leaving the guest terrified and shocked. The night manager of the hotel, David Neal, was arrested on May 5 in connection with the bizarre assault, according to local police.
Neal, aged 52, had reportedly generated a key card to access a room occupied by Peter Brennan, who was in town for a business conference.
The guest almost immediately recognised Neal as he was one of the hotel employees who had been sent to his room the day before to fix an issue with his TV. Neal claimed that he had gone into the room because he smelled smoke, but police found no evidence of smoke or fire.
Brennan told local news station WSMV, “I woke up at around 5am and I was being sexually assaulted by a man who had broken into my room,” adding that he planned to sue the hotel for their lack of assistance following the incident.
Michael Fisher, a lawyer acting for Mr Brennan, told reporters that the hotel employee was terminated based on his refusal to give a statement to Hilton, but he had contacted Hilton numerous times himself.
According to reports, Neal was confronted by police at his home in nearby Lebanon later that day and claimed that he had only entered the room because he thought he could smell smoke and he wanted to make sure the guest was okay.
However, there were no reports of a smell of smoke to security staff, no guests recalled smelling smoke, and no fire alarms had been triggered.
Neal was charged with aggravated burglary and assault and is currently being held on a $27,000 bond.
The hotel issued a statement that reads: “The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority. We are working closely with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and, as part of company policy, we do not comment on ongoing investigations”.
If anyone has been affected by this story, they can contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, www.victimsupport.org.uk.
The incident raises concerns about hotel security and employee vetting procedures. It is essential for hotel management to prioritize the safety and security of their guests, and for guests to be aware of the potential risks of staying in a hotel.
Victims of similar incidents can seek support from organizations such as Victim Support, which provides confidential advice to help victims cope and recover from the trauma they have experienced.
