Travelodge killer’s family sought help before woman’s death

Previously, the inquest heard Stephen Cole was evicted from the Russell Court Hotel in Bournemouth on 4 December 2020 after allegedly attacking guests and security guards.

Police civilian officer Julian Humphries described a “strange, unusual encounter” with Stephen Cole in his Travelodge room three days later.

Giving evidence, the offender manager said: “He was completely disengaged and almost blank.

“I noticed he was staring at me and then he told me ‘they’ were banging on the windows on the fourth floor.

“He stood up… He took a step towards me. I stepped back and the decision was easy to leave the room.

“It left me, I have to say, a little shaken, wondering what had just transpired.”

Later, the officer said he took a phone call from Philip Cole, who informed him his brother had run out of medication for schizophrenia.

Senior Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin asked whether the officer had considered whether Stephen Cole was a risk to the public.

She said: “You thought he was delusional, you were aware he had been violent, you were aware he was not taking medication and you removed yourself from the room because something wasn’t right.”

Mr Humphries said he did not think Stephen Cole was dangerous and did not inform the hotel about the encounter.

He added: “I did not feel that Mr Cole was going to attack me or was in need of immediate mental health care.”

Previously, the inquest was told the killer was released from HMP Winchester on 27 October 2020 with a four-week supply of the antipsychotic drug olanzapine.

A prison psychiatrist had noted: “His risk to others will have to be closely monitored as he has assaulted prisoners and staff in an unprovoked manner.”

Prison healthcare contractor PPG previously told the coroner it had not alerted Cole’s former GP about his release.

Ms Elena Vento’s parents, from Valencia, Spain, are following the six-week Bournemouth inquest by video link.

In a statement before the hearing, they said: “Now we desperately need answers about how such a brutal assault can have happened and whether it could have been prevented.”