Man charged with murdering lover at luxury five-star hotel in Surrey

A man, 60, has been charged with murdering his lover at a five-star hotel in Surrey. 

Pennyhill Park near Bagshot includes 120 acres of parkland which were used by the England rugby team for training ahead of the Six Nations and is just two miles from where Prince Edward lives. 

Paramedics were called to the hotel last Sunday morning who then alerted police about the victim, a  woman in her 50s, and their suspicions surrounding the incident.  

Surrey Police have since charged James Cartwright, from Axminster in Devon, with murder and controlling and coercive behaviour after he was arrested on Friday, 19 April. 

A source at the hotel revealed that a man and a woman arrived at the hotel last Friday. 

The source said: 'The couple had arrived on the Friday and had been booked in for the whole weekend with spa treatments as well.

'They had been booked for a massage that morning but didn't turn up and staff didn't even know it might be murder as the management wanted it kept quiet.

'Staff were told that there had been a death and nothing else so when the news broke everyone was shocked although police have been there all week but it's been kept very quiet.

'The hotel prides itself on privacy and discretion and guests have still been checking and using the facilities but none of them know what happened.

'The room where it happened is closed off and that area is out of bounds to everyone apart from the police and management.'

It is also believed that the victim and suspect were known to each other, Surrey Police said.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Debbie Birch said: 'Our thoughts are with the victim's family at this difficult time.

'The investigation is in the early stages and a specialist team of officers are working around the clock to follow up enquiries.'

Guests continued to arrive at the luxury hotel and were stunned to learn that a murder had taken place there.

One said:'We've just come from Hampshire for the weekend. It's the first I've heard.

'It's a bit disconcerting and now that you've told me I'm not sure I'm comfortable with it.'

Others appeared to be nonplussed with one guest telling MailOnline:'I've booked a weekend here with my wife for her birthday. She's been looking forward to it all week. Nothing is going to keep us away.'

A lone police car was parked outside the hotel but there appeared to be no obvious activity and staff were remaining tight lipped about the incident.

One said:'We've been told not to say anything and not to discuss it with anyone apart from staff and police.'

Cartwright has been remanded in police custody to appear at Guildford Magistrates Court tomorrow.