Police issue con alert

Licensees around the country are being warned about an extremely convincing confidence trickster who has recently conned two pubs in Newmarket, and is believed to have also struck in the Cotswolds. In the most recent cases, two licensees were each duped into parting with £980 after the trickster telephoned them and convinced them that he was a long-lost friend. Police in Newmarket, Suf-folk, said his modus operandi, which he tried on four pubs on 22 and 23 March, was to ring the landlords, convince them they knew him and ask two favours. The first was to put a bottle of champagne on ice for his wife and mother who would be visiting the pub shortly. He then said he wanted to buy a van but only had £2,000 and asked the licensee to lend him £980 to make up the shortfall. He then sent a taxi to collect a package containing the money. The taxi would then go to the railway station in King's Lynn, Norfolk, where it was handed to the trickster or an accomplice. Police say the conman somehow obtains enough background information about his victim to spin a "very convincing" tale. As most of the contacts are made over the phone, police do not have an accurate description to pass on. Anyone who can help, either with the Newmarket cases or who know of similar cases, is asked to ring DC Game of Newmarket police on 01284 774433. Yobs start pub blaze A pub was damaged and set on fire by football hooligans after Huddersfield Town was relegated to Division Three of the Nationwide League. Police said Huddersfield Town supporters caused the disturbance at the Vine, in Hamil Road, Burslem, Staffordshire, after the team's 5-1 defeat against Port Vale on Saturday. A group began smashing windows and set fire to furnishings after leaving the match early. The fire brigade were called, but the small fire had been put out by the time they arrived. Fifteen people were arrested at Stoke-on-Trent station in connection with the incident. They were released on bail until June pending further inquiries. The pub re-opened later the same day. 20 arrested at wake Twenty people were arrested after a funeral wake at a pub descended into chaos. Police were called to Chennell's Bar in Wellington Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, at 7.30pm last Thursday after a group of young people, who had been to a funeral earlier in the day, started causing trouble. Two people received minor injuries and needed hospital treatment after fighting broke out. The group also caused serious damage to the pub after the fracas started, which resulted in a bar stool and ashtray being thrown across the bar and a brick allegedly thrown through a window. A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: "As a result, 20 young people ­ three females and 17 males ­ aged between 16 and 19 from the Barnsley area were arrested for a variety of offences including assault, criminal damage and public disorder. "They had apparently been to a funeral earlier that day." They have been bailed until June 12. Drinks ban clampdown People who flout a street-drinking ban in Bolton face immediate arrest as part of a police crackdown on crime and disorder. The move follows four violent drink-related attacks in the town over the past seven days. A ban on street drinking in the town centre has been in force since 1993, but police say they are now enforcing it "rigorously" after the latest attacks. Police have started a zero tolerance policy, and are ap-pealing to licensees to play their part by refusing to serve drunk customers. A police spokesman warned landlords risked losing their licenses if it could be proved they had contributed to any trouble. Victims of street violence in the past week include a 35-year-old woman who was hit over the head with a glass in the Nelson Square area; a 33-year-old man who was attacked and suffered a broken cheek bone, also in Nelson Square; and another man who was stabbed in the chest after an argument.