Attacked hotelier still awaits reparation

A hotelier is still awaiting compensation six months after he was punched in the face by a drunken guest at a Christmas party.

Ken Fitzpatrick, owner of the Higher Trapp Country House Hotel, suffered a broken jaw and had to have his teeth wired.

An employee from marketing company Alcone was at his firm's Christmas party at the hotel in Simonstone, near Burnley in Lancashire, when he lashed out at Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick was hospitalised for the night. He claims the punch was unprovoked.

"This guy was clearly a troublemaker. He was drunk when he arrived and got more drunk as the night wore on.

"He started a fight with a colleague and we threw him outside. My wife went out to calm him down. I went out to ask her back in and he lashed out at me."

According to Fitzpatrick, the firm suspended the rowdy employee for a week following his bad behaviour and stated they would compensate him for loss of earnings.

However, Alcone's insurers, the Royal & Sun Alliance, refused to offer compensation as the employee was said to be acting outside the terms of his employment.

Fitzpatrick said he was "up against a brick wall".

"If we take him to court he could say he was provoked," he added. No further action is planned.

No one at Alcone was available for comment.