Kelly Butler, a 38-year-old mother from west London, has alleged she was sexually assaulted twice by a man in a Chiswick Travelodge, where she and her family were placed by their housing association, Notting Hill Genesis, while repairs were carried out on their Ravenscourt Park flat. Butler, who waived her right to anonymity, described how a stranger—also a Notting Hill Genesis tenant temporarily housed at the hotel—tried to grab and kiss her on two separate occasions.
Incident Details
Butler told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the first incident occurred outside the hotel when the man grabbed her hand and attempted to pull her in, asking, “Can I kiss you?” She reacted with shock, saying, “Woah, what are you doing?” The next morning, while in the breakfast area, the man repeated the behavior. Butler reported the incidents to her partner, Ashley Dudman, 42, and the man was subsequently removed from the hotel by Travelodge staff. The Metropolitan Police were notified but did not pursue further action after Travelodge’s investigation.
Broader Housing Issues
Butler and Dudman had been urging Notting Hill Genesis to repair their flat, which suffered from months of leaks, damp, and mould. After LDRS coverage, the family was moved to the Chiswick Travelodge on May 14. Butler claims essential repairs have yet to begin, despite their belongings being in storage. She expressed frustration: “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. They should be in there doing the work to the standard it should bloody be.”
Health Concerns
Dudman’s health conditions, including scleroderma—an autoimmune disease that reduces his lung capacity to 50%—were exacerbated by the flat’s condition. In May, the couple’s daughter was rushed to A&E with respiratory issues, which they suspect were linked to the home’s damp and mould. An Occupational Therapist report deemed the flat unsuitable for Dudman, prompting the decant.
Misrepresentation of Temporary Accommodation
After the assault, the family was moved on June 30 to a flat in Hounslow, which Notting Hill Genesis had described in an email as a ground-floor property. However, upon arrival, Butler found it was on the second floor, posing difficulties for Dudman. She also deemed the area unsafe: “On top of the property being entirely misrepresented to us, upon arrival it became immediately clear that the surrounding area was unsafe. 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 the emergency team and were relocated to another hotel—their third location in 24 hours—and are now staying at a Travelodge in Acton.
Responses from Notting Hill Genesis and Travelodge
A Notting Hill Genesis spokesperson said: “Repair work on the heating system [was] due to begin Tuesday [July 7], and once that is complete, wider work can begin on improved ventilation and window repairs. Our surveyors have kept Ms Butler informed throughout and will continue to do so. It is a complex project, and we are sorry this work has taken longer than anticipated. Once the family left the hotel, we found them alternative accommodation quickly. The property we offered to them was suitable as it was a like-for-like two-bedroom home. While Ms Butler’s permanent home is on the third floor, with no lift, we were aware of her preference for a ground floor home. We had been incorrectly advised that the alternative was on the ground floor, and we apologise to Ms Butler for this administrative error. Ms Butler initially accepted the offer, and we arranged for her essential furniture to be delivered, but Ms Butler later advised she did not feel safe in this area. We have now arranged for the family to stay at another hotel until they can return home following completion of the repairs. As well as funding their alternative accommodation, we are also covering Ms Butler’s reasonable expenses, so she is not out pocket. This is in line with our relocation policy.”
A Travelodge spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our guests and colleagues is our absolute priority, and we take any allegations of inappropriate or criminal behaviour within our hotels seriously. Following an allegation brought to our attention, we investigated and removed the individual from the hotel. We also cooperated fully with the police investigations, who were in agreement with the actions taken by our colleagues and did not find grounds to investigate further.”
