Hotel angry over paedophile guest

The Premier Travel Inn at Polegate was assessed by police

A hotel where a convicted paedophile was housed for three days following his release from prison has said it wants assurances it will not happen again.

The man, jailed for eight years for three counts of indecent assault on boys, was put up in the Premier Travel Inn in Polegate, East Sussex.

Sussex Probation said no approved accommodation was available and it had assessed the site with police.

A hotel spokeswoman said: "The safety of our guests and hotel is a priority."

Sussex Probation need to answer very clearly why this person wasn't in approved premises MP Norman Baker

"It does cause high feelings amongst people and could have caused some sort of backlash against the hotel."

The spokeswoman said the man checked in under his own name and used a personal credit card to settle his bill.

Hotel staff did not know about his conviction and contacted police when they found out.

"We do want something put in place that prevents this happening again," the spokeswoman added.

"We're the biggest chain in the country and we're a family friendly brand."

Sussex Probation said that, in line with national guidance, it decided with police "it would not be appropriate" disclose the 58-year-old man's background to hotel management.

Risk 'minimised'

Chief Probation Officer Brian Clark said the site assessment showed the hotel was outside main communities and away from schools, public playgrounds and other places the man was forbidden to visit.

He arrived at the hotel last Friday and was moved to approved accommodation three days later.

During his stay he reported daily to probation staff in Eastbourne and was supervised through the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, Norman Baker, said: "Sussex Probation need to answer very clearly why this person wasn't in approved premises, and I'll be pushing for an answer to that.

"I'll also be asking the minister for clarification as to what government policy is on occasions like this when there is apparently no approved premises available."