Hotel guests and a receptionist were alarmed when a self-harming ex-prisoner put up in a Travelodge returned with a bloodied face and claiming he had hurt somebody, a court heard.

Paul Florence, 48, unemployed, who gave his address as the Travelodge at Colwyn Bay in North Wales when he appeared in custody before Llandudno magistrates, was jailed for 18 weeks.

He admitted being drunk and disorderly in public when prohibited by a criminal behaviour order, common assault on his partner Ruth Small and stealing her mobile phone and bank card.

Prosecutor James Neary said in the middle of the night Florence told the night porter he had killed someone, and police were contacted several hours later.

Andrew Hutchinson, defending at Llandudno, said Florence was no stranger to the courts. There was had a history of self-harming in public stabbing himself, and there was a broken mug and a neck wound when police went to his hotel room at the weekend. “The Travelodge is no longer available to him,” the solicitor added.