London Mother Reports Sexual Assault During Temporary Hotel Stay
West London mum sexually assaulted by man – Kelly Butler, a 38-year-old mother from west London, has come forward with allegations that a fellow tenant attempted to physically assault her on two separate occasions while she was residing in a Travelodge. The incident occurred during a period when her family was temporarily relocated from their Ravenscourt Park residence to facilitate essential repairs. Ms. Butler, who has voluntarily waived the automatic anonymity typically granted to victims of sexual assault, was staying at the Chiswick High Road location to allow maintenance work to proceed on her home. Her partner, Ashley Dudman, aged 42, has been supporting her throughout this difficult period.
A Troubled Tenancy
The family’s journey to temporary accommodation began after months of enduring persistent problems within their flat. According to reports from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, both Kelly and Ashley had been repeatedly urging their landlord, Notting Hill Genesis, to address ongoing issues including water leaks, damp patches, and mould growth. Following media coverage of their situation, the family was asked to vacate their property so that renovation work could commence. Initially, they were relocated to the Chiswick Travelodge. However, it was during this stay that Kelly experienced the unsettling encounters with a stranger who was also a tenant of Notting Hill Genesis and was being temporarily housed at the same hotel.
The Assault Allegations
Kelly described the first incident to reporters, explaining that the man approached her while she was standing outside the hotel. “He basically walked past me, he grabbed my hand and was like trying to pull me in and was like, ‘can I kiss you?’, and I was like ‘woah, what are you doing?'” she recounted. Although she initially brushed off the encounter and informed her partner, a similar incident occurred the following morning. “I left it, I told Ashley… but then when we was in the breakfast area the next morning he did the same thing,” Kelly added. Following the second incident, the man was reported to the Metropolitan Police and subsequently removed from the Travelodge by hotel staff.
Complications with Alternative Housing
On June 30, Kelly and her family were transferred to a flat in Hounslow, which was presented as a more appropriate form of temporary accommodation. An email from Notting Hill Genesis, reviewed by the LDRS, indicated that the property was situated on the ground floor. However, upon arrival, Kelly discovered that the flat was actually located on the second floor, creating difficulties for her partner. “On top of the property being entirely misrepresented to us, upon arrival it became immediately clear that the surrounding area was unsafe,” Kelly explained. “My partner and I genuinely feared we were going to be attacked and robbed. With our daughter present we had absolutely no choice but to leave. We cannot return to that property.” The family contacted emergency services in the early hours of the morning, who arranged for them to check into another hotel. This marked their third accommodation change within a 24-hour period.
Health Concerns and Ongoing Repairs
Ashley Dudman’s health conditions have been significantly impacted by the state of their original flat. He suffers from scleroderma, an autoimmune disorder affecting his immune system and connective tissue, which has reduced his lung capacity to just 50 percent. In May, their daughter was urgently taken to A&E with respiratory problems, which the parents believe may have been connected to the poor condition of their home. An Occupational Therapist’s assessment confirmed that the flat was unsuitable for Ashley, prompting the move to the Chiswick Travelodge on May 14. Despite the family’s relocation, Kelly expressed frustration over the slow progress of repairs to their original property. She noted that essential work had barely begun, with only minor painting taking place on one occasion. “Why is it I’ve got to wait when they should be doing the work now? The whole idea is we’re out of the property, everything’s been emptied, all of our stuff is in a storage unit. They should be in there doing the work to the standard it should bloody be,” she stated. A Notting Hill Genesis representative confirmed that heating system repairs were scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 7, with ventilation and window improvements to follow. The spokesperson acknowledged that the project was more complex than expected and apologized for the delays. The family remains in an Acton Travelodge, having decided against returning to the Hounslow property. Kelly hopes that sharing her experience will draw attention to the challenges faced by London’s social housing tenants, whether they are stuck in substandard homes or placed in inadequate temporary accommodation while repairs are completed.
