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PROPERTY ENTREPRENEUR MICHAEL HAYWOOD, 34, WAS GIVEN A £1,000 FINE AT NEWCASTLE MAGISTRATES' COURT 10:00, 20 Apr 2025 A businessman subjected staff to a homophobic outburst after he was

"challenged" about bringing an unknown woman into a hotel. Property entrepreneur Michael Haywood had travelled to Newcastle for the weekend and was staying at the Copthorne Hotel

on the Quayside. But when the 34-year-old returned after a night out with an "unknown woman", staff challenged him as unknown guest are not allowed in rooms. It was then that

Haywood - who is engaged to be married - unleashed a homophobic tirade against the member of staff that challenged him. The outburst resulted in the police being called. On Wednesday,

Haywood, of Daveylands, Wilmslow, Cheshire, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court via link to be sentenced for a public order offence. He pleaded guilty to the charge, which dated

back to October 6, last year. The court heard that Haywood had travelled to Newcastle for the weekend and was staying at the Copthorne Hotel. Holly Clegg, prosecuting, said: "The

defendant went back to the hotel with an unknown female. He was challenged about it as it is [hotel] policy not to allow unknown guests in rooms. "The defendant was aggressive, saying

'this is f****** ridiculous. If this was a guy you would not have a problem would you, because you're a b*****'." Ms Clegg said that Haywood used "homophobic

language" during the outburst. The police were then called. Article continues below Jack Lovell, mitigating, said Haywood had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had shown

"genuine remorse". He said that he wrote an apologetic letter to the staff member and thought the matter had been resolved that way. Mr Lovell continued: "He had travelled [to

Newcastle] for the weekend with a friend. They had booked separate rooms adjacent to each other." The court was told that Haywood's friend "was a bit worse for wear" and

went back to the hotel early but went into Haywood's room instead of his own. Mr Lovell said it was the room mix-up which caused an issue with security and that Haywood claims he was

not with the "unknown female" - she was just there at the time and was made reference to during the outburst. He added: "There was a female there and a reference was made to

her. He was trying to get back to his own room which his friend was in." The court heard that Haywood lives with his fiancé and owns a number of successful businesses. Haywood was said

to be "embarrassed by his behaviour". Magistrates fined Haywood £1,000 and ordered him to pay £50 compensation. He must also pay £485 costs. Article continues below JOIN OUR COURT

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