Killer's family sought GP help before fatal attack

The family of a man who killed a hotel worker during a psychotic episode tried to get medical help for him immediately before the attack, an inquest has heard.

Stephen Cole, 32, launched a 42-minute assault on Marta Elena Vento, 27, who was on a solo night shift at the Travelodge in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, on 9 December 2020.

In the week before, his family called 999 and also took him to a GP as his mental health deteriorated, the Dorset coroner was told.

His father Roy Cole said the GP declined to renew a prescription for antipsychotic pills, leaving his son "crying" and "in the worst state I've ever seen him".

Ms Elena Vento died after being punched, kicked and attacked with hair clippers on her second shift at the Travelodge, where Cole was staying.

In 2021, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and was given an indefinite hospital order.

In a statement read out in court, Roy Cole said his son seemed "paranoid" in the days before the killing and claimed he was being watched by the fire alarms in his room.

The father took his son to Orchid House GP surgery in Ferndown on 8 December 2020, the day before the killing, the court heard.

However, the GP refused to prescribe medication without a further psychiatric assessment, the coroner was told.

Mr Cole told the court his son lived with him and his wife, until they moved from Reading to Dorset.

He added: "Stephen turned violent towards us. He had me grabbed round the neck once.

"I reported it to the police but the case was dismissed at court."

The parents won a restraining order which prevented their son from meeting them, it was heard.

The killer's brother Philip Cole said he was disappointed their father had been forced to breach the order in order to take him to the GP.

In a further statement read out in court, the brother said: "The responsibility to get Stephen the help he needed should have been taken by someone else other than my parents."

He told the court he called 999 on 5 December 2020, which resulted in a police officer visiting Stephen Cole at home.

Later, he spoke to the visiting officer, Julian Humphries.

Philip Cole said: "Julian said Stephen was threatening so he left.

"Julian seemed shocked to hear that Stephen was on medication, which surprised and worried me."

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.

On 4 December 2020, Cole was arrested for attacking guests and security guards at the Russell Court Hotel in Bournemouth.

Cole told police he had run out of his antipsychotic medication, but he was not deemed to pose a serious risk to others and was released after being charged, the inquest was told.

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."

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