How 'Basil Fawlty' was beaten by the guest

It could have been a scene from the comedy classic Fawlty Towers. An irate guest protested to a hotelier that he had been kept awake by noise from a wedding party.

The guest, Ian Peters, 62, an architect, asked the hotelier, Andrew Hageman, to step outside, and a "heated argument" ensued.

Peters punched Mr Hageman, 42, in the face, wrestled him to the flagstone floor,and kicked him in the groin.



However, the chaotic scenes were not from a scriptwriter's imagination but took place at the 16th century Mortons House Hotel, in Corfe Castle, Dorset.

By coincidence, Mr Hageman was likened to Basil Fawlty in a review of the hotel by the broadcaster, Sue Lawley, two years ago. Mr Hageman, who has run the hotel for seven years, was inspired by the review to write a book called Inn Keeping With Mr Fawlty: The confessions of a hotelier, which is published next month.

Peters, of Purley, south London, admitted assaulting Mr Hageman by beating him and was fined £375.