Pub boss hits out in debt fight

Steve Ralph claimed he had been financially ruined by his experience of running The Swan at Waters Upton, near Telford. But he added: "I'm an entrepreneur and won't let this business with Punch finish me.

"I don't forget easily. If I'm able to financially, I'll take Punch on in the courts one day."

He was commenting after a private hearing at Telford County Court yesterday.

Punch Taverns (PML) Ltd had taken him and his wife Sue to court, claiming an order for possession of the boarded up pub, rent arrears of £5,953 and costs.

Mr Ralph, 39, took over The Swan in August 2005 on a 20-year lease but left in March, plastering the building with notices accusing Punch of being "greedy".

Now living in rented accommodation, Mr and Mrs Ralph, who have two sons, are left with no jobs and debts to parents and bank of more than £66,000.

Yesterday's hearing was adjourned after the district judge indicated Mr and Mrs Ralph might have grounds for a counter-claim.

Mr Ralph handed to the court a catalogue of complaints against Punch, including high rents and a faulty oven which he says lost him £24,000 in takings.

His document said: "I have nothing left. Punch Taverns still have their millions of pounds and . . . have destroyed my business.

"I don't want to see any more lives ruined due to unfair business practice and bully-boy tactics."

But he said after the hearing there was little prospect of a counter-claim as he could not afford a solicitor.

He added: "I've had 20 or 30 e-mails of support sent to my address - steveatwolves@btinternet.com - many from Punch licensees."

Punch's legal representative declined to comment after the hearing. Regional operations director, Andy Hodgson, has previously said the Ralphs were offered every help and had accepted the terms of the lease.

He said he could point to plenty of Punch success stories and it was not in his interests to see pubs fail.