A man who tried to murder his girlfriend during a weekend break at a luxury hotel has been jailed for more than six years.
Sean Hendry, 29, got on top of the woman as she sat on a bed, placed his hands around her neck and put his fingers down her throat during the attack at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh last year, said prosecutors.
Hendry also placed a pillow over her face and pressed down during the assault and repeatedly punched her on the head and body.
Advocate depute Alan Cameron KC previously told the city’s High Court that the victim was “in fear for her life”, with Hendry reportedly threatening “we are both going to die tonight” and “I’m going to slit your throat”.
The attack happened on 22 February 2025.
The judge, Lord Renucci, heard how the couple had been in a relationship for about two-and-a-half years at the time of their hotel getaway.
Prosecutor Mr Cameron said the assault began some time past midnight after they returned to their room following dinner and drinks.
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Hendry was said to have become “increasingly angry and aggressive” towards his then partner as he accused her of “sending messages to other men”.
Victim ‘could not breathe’
Mr Cameron said: “She indicated that she wanted to leave but he got on top of her as she sat on the bed, placed both hands around her neck and then put his fingers down her throat.
“As a result, she could not breathe and was gasping for air. After a time he took a pillow and pressed it down on to her face.
“This again restricted her breathing, and she thought that she was going to lose consciousness, although she did not do so.”
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Man ‘planned to jump from window’
Hendry broke off the attack and went to a window indicating he intended to jump from it.
The woman was then able to flee into the hall and scream for help.
A couple in a neighbouring room alerted hotel security before heading into the hall, where they witnessed Hendry shouting at the upset and injured victim and “acting erratically”.
An intoxicated Hendry ignored a man’s attempt to calm him down and walked away, said the prosecutor.
The woman sought refuge in the couple’s room, but Hendry soon returned and went on to bang on the door while the victim begged them not to let him in.
Hotel staff appeared and escorted the abuser back to his room ahead of the arrival of police.
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After being arrested and charged with assault, Hendry was released on an undertaking to attend Edinburgh Sheriff Court the following month, with a special condition not to contact the woman or enter the Clackmannanshire street where she lived.
However, within hours of his release, he phoned the victim demanding his bank card. The woman told him she would give it to his friend and ended the call.
Attacker went to victim’s home
Hendry then turned up at her home in Alloa and threatened to smash his way in with a vodka bottle. The woman, who was with friends, suffered a panic attack and an ambulance had to be called.
At the High Court in Edinburgh in November, Hendry pleaded guilty to attempted murder, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the hotel and in Alloa, and failing to comply with conditions not to contact his victim or enter her street.
He was handed an extended sentence at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, with six years and three months in jail and three years on licence once released back into the community.
Hendry was additionally banned from contacting the woman for 15 years.
