Smoke ban attack host furious at assault trial delays
A furious Bolton licensee has written to Gordon Brown criticising the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for “unnecessary delays” in an assault case.
Colin Wells: Attacked enforcing the ban
Colin Wells was attacked for enforcing the smoking ban in July last year — but the case has not been resolved.
It follows complaints from other Bolton licensees about the light penalties, such as cautions, given to thugs who assault pub hosts.
Wells suffered a broken leg during the assault. The case has been delayed twice, once due to the defence needing more time to look at medical evidence and once because of a change of plea.
The defendant pleaded guilty last week to actual bodily harm and will be sentenced at a later date.
The Admiral lessee said: “I can’t understand why it took nearly 10 months to find and examine a few photographs.
“I feel the support we receive as licensees from the various agencies are non-existent at present. We enforce legislation on their behalf, yet receive no help when things go wrong.”
A CPS spokesperson said: “There was no unnecessary delay on the part of the prosecution. The defence asked for an adjournment to consider medical evidence, which was granted.
“When the prosecution received a plea from the defence that was acceptable, the case was adjourned for sentence, which is normal procedure.”
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