Israeli govt smashed up 4 Seasons lodge suite in £100,000 Park Lane rampage that ended when police discovered him topless and coated in shaving cream, courtroom hears

  • Ofer Tsofan, 52, prompted over £100,000 of injury to a Park Lane lodge room
  • He denies arson, felony injury and two assaults on account of purpose of madness
  • Court docket heard it was not disputed Tsofan dedicated the acts that he’s accused of
  • Three professional psychiatrists say Mr Tsofan may avail himself in ‘madness’ defence










An Israeli govt prompted over £100,000 of injury to a lodge room in a ‘90-minute siege’ at considered one of London’s prime lodges throughout an ‘acute manic episode’.

Ofer Tsofan, 52, torched cushions and towels in suite 212 on the 4 Seasons Resort on Park Lane on July 24 final yr, jurors at Southwark Crown Court docket heard.

Mr Tsofan was seen by safety employees round noon demanding to talk to Microsoft co-founder Invoice Gates and have his household flown to the UK from Israel by non-public jet, in addition to telling employees to ‘f*** off’.

Resort employees known as a good friend of Mr Tsofan to assist do a welfare test on him, however the Israeli businessman hurled abuse at his good friend for 2 hours till police have been known as, jurors heard.

Police arrived round 9.45pm and tried to enter the lodge room as Mr Tsofan shouted abuse and demanding to see his lawyer.

Mr Tsofan then let the officers into the suite, however barricaded himself in a room whereas setting fires and throwing varied objects at police, together with glass bottles and a burning ebook.

Ofer Tsofan, 52, caused over £100,000 of damage to a Park Lane hotel room in July last year

Ofer Tsofan, 52, prompted over £100,000 of injury to a Park Lane lodge room in July final yr

He torched cushions and towels in suite 212 at the Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane on July 24

He torched cushions and towels in suite 212 on the 4 Seasons Resort on Park Lane on July 24 

The chief was solely carrying a pair of black trousers and had coated elements of his physique in shaving cream.

When Mr Tsofan was ultimately arrested and brought to hospital, the total extent of the injury was revealed.

Mr Tsofan destroyed three vintage Chinese language chests, two televisions, a music system, a picket furnishings set, and a number of glass tabletops, the courtroom heard.

Smoke from the fires set of the room’s sprinkler system, inflicting in depth flood injury.

Three antique Chinese chests, two televisions, a music system, a wooden furniture set, and multiple glass tabletops were destroyed in the rampage

Three vintage Chinese language chests, two televisions, a music system, a picket furnishings set, and a number of glass tabletops have been destroyed within the rampage

Paintings, furnishings upholstery, and three wallpaper panels additionally wanted to get replaced due to ketchup stains, jurors heard. The full invoice was £108,982.85

One officer was injured after a glass bottle smashed on a door close to his face, jurors heard.

Prosecutor Christopher Jenkins mentioned: ‘It’s not disputed that Mr Tsofan dedicated the acts that he’s accused of.

‘Mr Tsofan was assisted after these incidents by three professional psychiatrists, in essence all three or much less agreed Mr Tsofan may avail himself of the defence of madness.

‘Mr Tsofan was in the midst of an acute manic episode.

‘There was successfully a 90-minute siege, with Mr Tsofan barricaded in his room and the police making an attempt to calm him down.’

Shaven-headed Tsofan appeared at Southwark Crown Court docket carrying a blue shirt and inexperienced puffer jacket, as a member of his household watched from the general public gallery.

Tsofan, of no fastened handle, denies arson, felony injury to property and two assaults of emergency staff, specifically law enforcement officials, on account of purpose of madness.

The trial continues.

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