A bride and groom spent their wedding night in police cells after she began fighting, spitting, and hurling racist abuse during a bust up with staff at Manchester’s luxury Hilton Hotel, a court heard.
Kirsty Bigland, 30, who was still in her white wedding dress, shouted ‘fucking monkeys’ and ‘Paki bastard’, when a card payment was refused as she and her husband Nick Bigland, 25, tried to check into their room, it was claimed.
Staff ushered the newlyweds out of the four star Hilton Hotel in Manchester city centre due to their foul-mouthed behaviour, before Kirsty allegedly began running at security staff swearing and spitting.
During attempts to restrain her, she allegedly shouted ‘get off me you black Paki bastard’, then attempted to punch one member of staff and spat on his shirt and jacket before yelling “Fuck you Paki bastard, you should not be in this country’.
Nick stood in the way of a barrier so cars could not leave and eventually had to be pinned down by security staff after he shouted ‘come on you knob heads I will knock you out’, the court heard.
Police arrived at the £300 a night hotel – a favourite of Premiership footballers and rock stars – and carted away the Biglands to a nearby police station where they spent the night in neighbouring cells.
They were later charged with public order offences.
The couple, from Salford, appeared for a hearing At Manchester Magistrates court where Kirsty denied racially aggravated common assault and a racially aggravated public order offence.
Nick pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour and will be sentenced later.
The incident occurred on May 31 after the couple married and had their reception in the city centre. After the function they were due to book into the Hilton at 11pm for their wedding night.
But prosecutor Miss Ruth Mann said trouble began when the couple’s credit card was denied.
She said: “Mr Ahmed, a member of reception staff, was dealing with the couple. At first he could not locate the booking and when he did find it the defendants’ credit card was then denied. Payment was required before the room could be allocated.
”The receptionist then heard Nicholas refer to another member of staff as a ‘fucking idiot’. The defendant was using his mobile phone at the time and swearing to who he was talking to.”
“Kirsty was heard saying ‘fucking monkeys’ then ‘fucking Paki’s.’ He took this remark as a reference to the ethnicity of himself and colleagues and the couple were not allowed to remain in the hotel due to their behaviour.”
Miss Mann said security staff arrived so the hotel receptionists could deal with other guests, then one guest heard Kirsty using the term ‘Paki Bastards’ toward the staff and they were moved to the forecourt.
Miss Mann added: “Nicholas was heard to say ‘come on you knob heads, I will knock you out’. He was obstructing a barrier for cars to leave and had to be removed from it.”
”Kirsty ran at the staff swearing and spitting at them. Nicholas then made comments that he would assault them if they touched his wife.
“He was pinned down and stopped from hitting anyone. Kirsty ran towards the staff. They stopped her and she said ‘get off me your Paki bastard.’ She attempted to punch him and spat on his shirt and jacket.
“A witness heard the defendant say ‘fuck you Paki bastard, you should not be in this country.’ The defendant clearly most responsible here is Kirsty Bigland.”
During the hearing the couple appealed for their address to be kept a secret but their pleas was rejected.
Kirsty’s lawyer John Wolfson said: “This has been a difficult time for Mrs Bigland. For the record she strenuously denies the allegations of what happened on her wedding night.”
The trial will take place before JPs on November 11 and 12. The couple were granted conditional bail.
Story via Cavendish Press.
Image courtesy of Borja Iza, with thanks.
