Travelodge 'fire' - face of man who sparked huge emergency response

Jason Jeffries refused to leave his room at the Travelodge in Cathedral Square in Worcester as emergency services on blue lights rushed to the scene, including three fire engines.

There was a report of a fire in one of the rooms and firefighters rushed to the hotel only to find there was no fire but that Jeffries had locked himself inside.

ARREST: Jason Jeffries is arrested at Cathedral Square in Worcester on Monday (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The 40-year-old of Worcester had damaged the lock to his room and was understood to be smoking. Fire alarms were set off, triggering the evacuation of the building with a fire assembly point set up outside.

He admitted criminal damage at Kidderminster Magistrates Court today and received a 12 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £100 in compensation.

EFFORT: A hard working firefighter carries a hose during the large emergency response (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Fire crews and police rushed to the Travelodge on Monday as alarms went off and guests were forced to leave the building.

It was an operation which involved three fire engines, four police cars and an ambulance, the evacuation of the hotel and a fire service cordon being placed in front of several businesses and the car park.

READ MORE: Police response to Travelodge emergency incident 

READ MORE: Man led away in handcuffs from Travelodge 

Jeffries was ultimately led away to a waiting police van in handcuffs as hotel guests and members of the public watched the spectacle.

Jeffries offered no resistance and did not speak as he was escorted away by four police officers.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "At 6.15pm on Monday emergency services were called to the Travelodge in High Street in Worcester following a report of a suspected fire in a room on the fourth floor.

"Following attendance by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue and police a 40-year-old man was arrested for criminal damage and taken to Worcester custody."

A spokesperson for the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: "Three Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews from Worcester Fire Station were called at 6.03pm to a fire with persons reported in Cathedral Plaza in Worcester.

"A person was in a room and refusing to leave.

"Entry was made to the room using spreaders and a Kelly tool.

"A man was taken into police custody.

"All persons were accounted for and the incident was left with police.

Ambulance also attended but a spokesperson said there were no casualties and the incident was marked as pending closure at 7.11pm.

A fire assembly point was set up in Cathedral Square with several guests saying the Travelodge had been evacuated after fire alarms went off.

A female guest, who declined to be named, said: "The security guard said he (the man who was arrested) locked himself in their room and was smoking. That's all we know."