A drug addict who attacked three women with a claw hammer in their London hotel room has a history of violence including an attempted hammer attack on his landlord, a jury heard.

Sisters Ohoud Al-Najjar, Khulood Al-Najjar and Fatima Al-Najjar, from the United Arab Emirates, were staying at the four-star Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch on a family holiday when they were beaten on the head in a "vicious and sustained" attack.

Philip Spence, 32, admits grievous bodily harm against the three women in the early hours of Sunday April 6 but denies attempted murder.

Simon Mayo QC, for the prosecution, told a jury of seven women and five men at Southwark Crown Court that Spence had been convicted twice for ABH, twice for affray, five times for burglary and once for theft, amongst other offences.

The violence included attacks on a female council office worker, care home staff and passers-by on the street, and Spence also threatened to kill a man he met on an online dating site.

Explaining the previous incident with a hammer, Mr Mayo said: "On November 13 2007 Spence threatened his landlord at Forest Road in Walthamstow regarding rent.

"Spence became abusive and took a hammer from his landlord's handyman bag and chased the victim.

"He then used the hammer to attack the door to get at the victim, smashing a glass panel.

"Spence left the building briefly before returning to attack the door a second time."

Spence had also threatened to kill a man he had met through an online dating site before committing burglary at the victim's house, the court heard.

Mr Mayo told the court: "Spence was in contact with a Mr Pasquarelli through an online dating site. When Mr Pasquarelli refused to meet him, Spence telephoned him and became abusive.

"On one occasion, overheard by police, Spence telephoned him and became abusive, threatening to kill the victim by stabbing him.

"Spence also admitted breaking into the victim's house in Peckham Grove."

He was sentenced over the matter in September 2010 for sending a menacing message and burglary.

In April 2007 the defendant was sentenced for punching a female employee unconscious at Islington Borough Council offices in north London, the court heard.

Mr Mayo said: "He was complaining about problems with his accommodation and shouted "You will deal with this now" at a female member of staff.

"He punched her in the face, causing her to lose conciousness. She woke with serious head pain and later attended A&E."

Spence was also said to have become violent towards staff at a care home for homeless people where he was staying.

He was sentenced in June 2011 for throwing a glass of water at one employee at the home before threatening staff that he would "f*** (them) up".

And in April 2011, he was convicted for kicking a box at a man before spitting at him, punching him and biting his life shoulder whilst walking along Conway Road in north London.

The court heard that following the attack at the Cumberland Hotel, Spence made several visits to Emma Moss, whose brother James, of Hanley Road, Stroud Green, north London, has admitted handling stolen goods in relation to the case.

In a police statement read out in court, Ms Moss said she had known the defendant since she was 10 years old because their families were friends.

She said "I have never been in a relationship with Philip and we have no sort of relationship because of his drug addiction. I believe he uses crack cocaine and heroin.

"He doesn't have a home and stays with different people. The last address he was at was in south-east London.

"I know Philip to be a criminal who commits burglaries and robberies and he has told me he has stolen from hotels before.

"He is also someone who exaggerates and tells lies."

The court heard that on the evening of April 6, Spence turned up at Ms Moss's home, acting "hyperactive" and telling her about £50,000 worth of jewellery, BlackBerrys, iPods, bags and perfume he had stolen.

"He told me he got them from a hotel room. I knew he had done something bad but he often tells tales."

The following day he returned and appeared to be "paranoid", telling Ms Moss that his friends were trying to set him up and he was in "big trouble".

She said Spence told her what had happened at the hotel, adding: "Philip always carries a hammer with him.

"Philip told me that he had left the hammer there (at the hotel). He was crying but I believe this was about himself, not the women."

Spence, from Abbeyfields Close near Harlesden in north-west London, is also standing trial for conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary alongside Thomas Efremi, 57, from Upper Handa Walk in Islington.

While he was being held at Islington police station after his arrest on April 10, Spence told officers: "You know the only person you should be holding is Tom."

Efremi, who denies the conspiracy charge but has admitted one count of fraud in relation to the case, shook his head in the dock as the statement was read out and looked away from Spence, who stared straight ahead.

The court has previously heard that all three women were hit repeatedly with the hammer and suffered fractured skulls during the onslaught.

Ohoud, who lost part of her brain due to the attack, can no longer speak, had one eye removed and is never expected to recover from the attack.

Mr Mayo told the jury of five men and seven women today that numerous valuables stolen from the sisters, including jewellery worth thousands of pounds, have not been recovered.

They include a white and yellow gold Rolex and another watch with encrusted diamonds which had been given to Fatima as a graduation present.

A Top Shop bag containing five iPhone, BlackBerry and Samsung mobile phones and a Samsung camera, Louis Vuitton gold bracelets, several rings, Gucci sunglasses, at least £300 and 200 US dollars and UAE bank cards are also still missing.

The case was adjourned to Monday at 10am.