Hotel where night porter was tortured. Source

Two armed assailants broke into a Lewisham hotel at 3:30 this morning, subjecting the night porter to “brutal torture” and stealing £15 from a fruit machine.

Frank Stewart, 51, night porter at the Jury’s Hotel on Lewisham Way, is at Wittington Hospital, after having been subjected to torture in the hotels basement.

Detective Inspector James Dallowey said: “They bundled  [Stewart] down to the basement (…) and tied his hands and feet.”

The robbers  beat Stewart with a hammer and cut his face with a knife, trying to get Stewart to give them the keys to the hotel safe.

Stewart denied knowing where the keys wereand the two men gave up. Weakened, Stewart still managed to break free and raise the alarm.

DI Dallowey said: “These men are particularly vicious and we are keen to catch them.” Stewart suffered cuts to his face and hands, and needs 35 stitches.

Hotel Manager Jeremy Bates offered support to Stewart and his family. Bates is offering £500 to anyone who can help catch the attackers.

Police described the attackers as white males with local accents. One was five foot eleven, stocky, with short dark hair. The second was five foot four, with long brown hair, and was wearing a brown sweatshirt, jeans and trainers. He also carried a knife.