Severely autistic schoolboy, six, was 'thrown out of hotel for using his iPad at breakfast despite the fact it helps keep him calm'

  • Jay Hangley and family stayed at the hotel while he got treatment nearby
  • Mother, Katharine, claims he accidentally turned volume up at breakfast
  • She claims they were thrown out of Russell Hotel, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
  • But owner claims 'unpleasant' family were responsible for the argument 

By James Dunn For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A six-year-old with severe autism was thrown out of a hotel for watching a cartoon on the iPad he uses to keep him calm, his mother claims.

Katharine Hangley said her son Jay had accidentally turned up the volume while watching Donald Duck at breakfast in the Russell Hotel in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, after they flew in for Gibraltar.

She said that the dining area was 'nearly empty' but guest complained and the manager asked them to leave the hotel, where they were staying so Jay could get treatment at a specialist centre nearby. 

The family claims the iPad calms Jay (pictured) down

Katharine Hangley (left) said her son Jay (pictured) claims her family was thrown out of the Russell Hotel after her autistic son accidntally turned up the volume on his iPad, which he uses to calm him down

She said that the dining area of the Russell Hotel (pictured) was 'nearly empty' but guests complained and the manager asked them to leave

She said that the dining area of the Russell Hotel (pictured) was 'nearly empty' but guests complained and the manager asked them to leave

Katharine and husband Jason were furious after being left desperately seeking alternative accommodation so Jay could continue with his therapy before they fly home on Friday.

She said: 'I said to Jay "put the volume down" and all of sudden this elderly man got in my face and asked him to turn it off. I said no, as the iPad calms him down.'

Mr and Mrs Hangley, who were also with their seven-year-old daughter, said the man claimed to be the owner and wanted Jay to leave the breakfast area, before they even finished their breakfast.

Former accountant Mrs Hangley, who now cares for her son full-time, left the breakfast area and went to reception, but was followed by the owner, who she says kicked her out of the hotel.

She said: 'I was shocked, he left the area and I just broke down.

'I'm still in shock, I could not believe something like that could happen to my son.'

But hotel manager, Richard Morley, denies ordering them to leave and claimed the volume of the iPad was making guests uncomfortable. 

Mr Morley, who has owned the set in a Victorian mansion hotel for 20 years, said: 'They were playing with their iPad at a volume that was uncomfortable for guests.

Hotel manager Richard Morley, denies ordering them to leave and claimed the volume of the iPad (pictured) was making guests uncomfortable 

Hotel manager Richard Morley, denies ordering them to leave and claimed the volume of the iPad (pictured) was making guests uncomfortable 

The hotel owner claims the 'unpleasant' family (pictured) caused the incident to spiral out of control, accusing him of racism then threatening to ruin the hotel's reputation by sharing the experience on social media

The hotel owner claims the 'unpleasant' family (pictured) caused the incident to spiral out of control, accusing him of racism then threatening to ruin the hotel's reputation by sharing the experience on social media

'We went to ask our guests if they would turn the volume down and they were taken aback.'

The hotel owner claims the 'unpleasant' family caused the whole incident to spiral out of control, accusing him of racism then threatening to ruin the hotel's reputation by sharing the experience on social media.

To try and calm the situation, he said he suggested that using the iPad with headphones would have been fine.

He added: 'I find the incident extremely regrettable, incredibly unfortunate and am sad that it should have taken place.'

Mr Hangley blasted the owner, calling the behaviour 'disgusting' and accusing Mr Morley of having 'no consideration at all'.

The welder said they have never experienced anything other than kindness and understanding from people in the UK when it came to their son's condition.

 

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