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Drunk guest Vincent Vander-Derwerf arrested after trying to gatecrash wedding at Chilston Park Hotel in Lenham

A man swapped a plush hotel room for a prison cell after trying to gatecrash a wedding during a drunken rampage.

Vincent Vander-Derwerf had been staying with his partner at the four-star Chilston Park Hotel in Sandway, Lenham, in August when the romantic getaway descended into an argument.

Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard the pair had started drinking at 1pm and by 9.30pm Vander-Derwerf appeared very drunk.

The drunken hotel guest turned up at the wedding reception uninvited. Library image.
The drunken hotel guest turned up at the wedding reception uninvited. Library image.

The carpenter, from Bromley, began shouting and swearing, yelling things out of the bedroom window and throwing things around the room.

His girlfriend fled to reception saying she was scared of him and was locked in a private room while staff called the police. Vander-Derwerf followed her into the lobby before going to the hotel bar.

Lorrayne Synmoir, prosecuting, explained that he became even more aggressive when told he would not be served and subjected staff to a torrent of abuse, before trying to join a wedding reception.

When he was thrown out he returned to his room where he continued banging and shouting and disrupting other guests, until he was restrained by police.

Chilston Park Hotel in Maidstone
Chilston Park Hotel in Maidstone

Vander-Derwerf told the court his partner had been going through a divorce and that talk had turned to sensitive personal issues.

He said: “It was a very unfortunate incident and I’m very regretful. It was a one-off and I’m managing my drinking better now.”

Chairman of the bench Carol Findlay suggested he seek help for the problem, adding: “This was a lengthy affair with a lot of offensive words being said to a lot of people, causing distress.

“You can imagine what your behaviour would have done to the wedding party.”

He admitted being drunk and disorderly in a public place and was fined £400. He must also pay £85 costs, a £40 victim surcharge and £150 in court charges.

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