Hammer attacker walks through hotel lobby moments before bludgeoning tourist sisters and 'licking weapon clean of blood'

 
Accused: Phillip Spence in the lobby of the Cumberland Hotel at 1.13am on Sunday, 6 April
Paul Cheston9 October 2014
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The man who bludgeoned three sisters with a hammer in an horrific attack in their hotel room is seen walking through the lobby moments before the assault.

The CCTV, shown to jurors today, shows Philip Spence walking calmly through the lobby of the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch before attacking tourists Ohoud, Khulood and Fatima Al-Najjar soon after they had arrived from the United Arab Emirates.

He is a crack cocaine and heroin addict who boasted to police about licking blood from his weapon, the court was told.

All three were lucky to survive the brutal attack carried out in front of their children in the early hours of Sunday April 6.

Spence is seen on bus CCTV with a suitcase on the night of the attack

Spence, 32, has admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on the three women but denies attempted murder.

Southwark Crown Court today heard that following the attack Spence made several visits to Emma Moss, whose brother James has admitted handling stolen goods in relation to the case.

In a police statement read out in court, Ms Moss said: "I have known Philip Spence since I was 10 years old. My family and his family are long-time friends.

"I have never been in a relationship with Philip and we have no sort of relationship because of his drug addiction. I believe he uses crack cocaine and heroin.

Philip Spence, 32, denies attempted murder but has admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm

"He doesn't have a home and stays with different people. The last address he was at was in south-east London.

"I know Philip to be a criminal who commits burglaries and robberies and he has told me he has stolen from hotels before.

"He is also someone who exaggerates and tells lies."

The court heard that on the evening of April 6, Spence turned up at Ms Moss's home.

In her statement to police, she said: "He was hyperactive and told me about getting £50,000 worth of jewellery, BlackBerrys, iPods, bags and perfume.

The hammer, which the court heard was 'licked clean of blood' by Spence

"He told me he got them from a hotel room. I knew he had done something bad but he often tells tales."

Ms Moss said Spence was on crack but that she thought nothing more of what he had told her.

The following day he returned and appeared to be "paranoid", telling Ms Moss that his friends were trying to set him up and he was in "big trouble".

She said Spence told her what had happened with the hammer, adding: "Philip always carries a hammer with him.

Thomas Efremi has admitted one count of fraud linked to the case

"Philip told me that he had left the hammer there (at the hotel). He was crying but I believe this was about himself, not the women."

The court also heard that when he was arrested on April 10, Spence allegedly told police: "There ain't no blood on the hammer. I licked it all off, it went down my throat, yeah."

He was also said to have asked officers: "Why so many of you involved? Are the Arabs paying you to catch me?"

Thomas Efremi pictured with a wad of cash buying a phone in Islington

Spence, from Harlesden, is also standing trial for conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary alongside Thomas Efremi, 57, from Islington.

While he was being held at Islington police station, the court was told, Spence told officers: "You know the only person you should be holding is Tom."

Efremi, who denies the conspiracy charge but has admitted one count of fraud in relation to the case, shook his head in the dock as the statement was read out and looked away from Spence, who stared straight ahead.

The case continues.

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