Ex-licensee fined for lack of door staff

The former licensee of a Powys pub failed to ensure appropriate door staff were operating on her premises despite receiving a series of warnings by police, Welshpool magistrates heard.

But Sarah Thomas, former landlady of The Flying Shuttle, Llanidloes Road, Newtown, said she was never told about the requirement.

The 43-year-old who now lives in Brookfields, Weston Rhyn, near Oswestry, admitted three offences under the Licensing Act when she appeared at court yesterday. Magistrates fined her £100.

Mr Nigel Vaughan, prosecuting, said Thomas had failed to put doormen outside her premises on October 19, October 27 and November 9 last year.

He said: “She was responsible for the day-to-day running of the premises and it was her responsibility under the Licensing Act 2003 rules to ensure that two Security Industry Authority doormen stood outside the premises on a Friday and Saturday night from 8pm onwards.”

Mr Vaughan said police had spoke to Thomas’s husband on several occasions.

“Her husband informed police that they had been let down by security and didn’t think anyone needed to be on the door until 9pm.” said Mr Vaughan.

Mr James Cameron, for Thomas, said she took over the pub in August 2007 and the doormen rules came into force on September 1. He said: “When my client took over the running of the pub she wasn’t told about the new requirement.

“This is a case of serious lack of communication between all the parties involved.”