Driver pleads guilty to causing £300,000 damage to JDW pub

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The driver who crashed into a JD Wetherspoon pub in May this year has pleaded guilty to three charges at Portsmouth Crown Court.Stephen Lewry, 36,...

The driver who crashed into a JD Wetherspoon pub in May this year has pleaded guilty to three charges at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Stephen Lewry, 36, caused an estimated £300,000 damage when he drove his Vauxhall Cavalier into the Lord Arthur Lee in Fareham, Hampshire, on May 6. The car destroyed tables and chairs and smashed a rail dividing the smoking and non-smoking sections before coming to a halt.

Mr Lewry admitted charges of driving dangerously, damaging property, and being reckless as to whether lives of staff and customers were endangered at the pub. He also pleaded guilty to damaging a door at the pub in a separate incident the day before the crash.

The Crown Prosecution Service accepted not guilty pleas to four other charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, damaging property with intent and being reckless as to whether lives of staff and customers were endangered at the pub with intent.

The court heard Mr Lewry had been banned from the pub two days earlier because of alleged aggressive behaviour towards customers and staff. After the crash, he attempted to flee the scene but was held by members of the public until police arrived.

The case was adjourned for reports to be prepared for sentencing on October 3.

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