Thieving host went on run

A former Shropshire landlord, hooked on fruit machine gambling, has been jailed for 15 months for stealing £12,000 from his pub. Darren Dougherty, ex-licensee of the Swan Inn in Newport, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court and admitted theft charges. The court heard that the 32-year-old had been spending £200 a day on fruit machines. A surprise audit at the pub had revealed the losses and, when confronted, Dougherty had admitted the theft. Fearful of the consequences, he had gone on the run for three years, but finally gave himself up. Pub worker in drive ban A pub worker who drank a bottle of wine before driving home was banned from driving for three years for being nearly five times over the drink-drive limit. Chelmsford Magistrates Court heard that Stephanie Webb, 30, of Great Totham, Essex, was pulled over one morning in July for not wearing a seat belt. Officers could smell drink. Tests revealed Webb had 352mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80. Steven Levy, defending, said Webb was using the drink to wind down after working long hoursat a nearby pub restaurant. He argued that she had built up a tolerance to alcohol over time. Webb admitted drink driving and was given a community punishment and rehabilitation order, including 100 hours work in the community. Raiders hit four pubs Police are appealing for information after four pubs in the Cotswolds were raided. The Tunnel House and the Thames Head were targeted by burglars in the early hours of Wednesday. Bottles of spirits and the till were stolen from the Tunnel House but the raiders left the Thames Head empty-handedafter searching the premises. In both instances the burglars got into the pubs by smashing awindow. On Wednesday night, the fruit machine at the Air Balloon in Birdlip was stolen. And, at around 5.45am on Wednesday, the licensee of the Bell and Castle in Horsley, just south of Stroud, chased off intruders. One of the intruders is stocky, aged between 20 and 30, and has short cropped fair hair. He was wearing a dark short-sleeved shirt with white checks and dark trousers. Anyone with information about the break-ins is urged to contact Gloucestershire Police on 0845 090 1234. Man jailed for assault A man who tried to glass another man in the face at a Devon pub after claiming to have drunk 10 pints of lager has been jailed for six months. Paul Russell, 21, of Paignton, had, at the time of the assault, been under a conditional discharge for threatening behaviour while drunk. Russell, who pleaded guilty, was also banned from pubs and clubs in Torbay for two years. Exeter Crown Court heard that Russell had been at a birthday party before visiting the Crazy Horse Saloon in Paignton. While there, Michael Prosser, who was with friends, recognised Russell as someone one of his friends knew and went to speak to him. But Russell became aggressive and Prosser pushed him away. Russell swung the glass at him but Prosser managed to cover his face with his hands. A brawl began between the men and they had to be pulled apart by friends and door staff. When interviewed by police, Russell, said he had drunk 10 pints of Stella Artois. He also claimed Prosser had hit him first. Michael Deegan, defending, said Russell was depressed because his long-term relationship had just ended and he was in debt. Jailing Russell, Judge LA Blohm said: "This was a very serious assault which even on your account went beyond self defence." Fire causes town chaos A fire at a Warwickshire barfilled the town centre with smoke and caused traffic chaos last Wednesday. The fire at the Voodoo bar in Leamington started in the afternoon. Six people were evacuated and four teams of firefighters took turns to tackle the blaze. The bar had its windows blown in by the backdraft and the fire also caused extensive damage to the top floor. Police had to redirect traffic around the building.