Host tied up by robbers

A licensee was tied up andbeaten during a raid on his Gloucestershire pub. The host, who is in his early 20s, suffered serious injuries to his face, chest and arms during the attack on the Britannia in Tewkesbury. He was asleep in his room above the bar when two robbers broke in during the early hours of Saturday. They demanded money and punched and kicked him as he lay in bed. The raiders then tied him up and forced him to give them the keys to the safe before fleeing with cash. The licensee needed hospital treatment for his injuries. Anyone with information is urged to call Gloucestershire Police. Spiking targeted Newcastle Police have launched a campaign, aimed at new students, to crack down on drink spiking. Warning posters and beer mats are being sent to about 800 licensed premises advising people to protect their drinks, at a time when thousands of students arrive in the region. The "Make Mine a Safe One" campaign, run with Gateshead-based Federation Brewery, also sees credit-card sized leaflets being distributed during Fresher's Week advising students on the best ways to protect themselves. Superintendent Jim Peacock, head of community safety, said: "We don't think this habit is any more prevalent in Northumbria than any other region. But we don't want it happening at all." Pair hurt as car hits pub A man and a woman were seriously injured after their car skidded off a road, hit a pub and landed upside down. The black Mini Cooper was travelling towards Bournemouth at around 1am on Friday when it left the road and hit the roof of the Fish Inn at Ringwood. The car overturned and landed on its roof in the car park. The 23-year-old female driver had to be cut free from the car. She had serious leg injuries and needed emergency surgery. The passenger, a 25-year-old Bournemouth man, suffered head and leg injuries and was taken to the same hospital. Late drinks prove costly A Lancashire licensee was fined £200 after police spotted more than 40 people drinking in a Blackburn pub at 2.50am. Blackburn magistrates heard that police had seen people leaving the Lord Raglan in the early hours of the morning. Officers also heard music and singing coming from inside the pub. Host Jean Blades pleaded guilty to selling liquor outside permitted hours through an agent, John McGuire, who was having a 50th birthday party at the time. Raiders' £40,000 haul Robbers threatened staff with knives at an Essex pub before fleeing with jewellery and cash. The raiders entered the Lion in Langenhoe just after midnight on Monday morning and forced the staff to hand over £10,000 and jewellery worth £30,000 from the safe. Three people, aged 16, 19 and 22, have been arrested by Essex Police and are being questioned on suspicion of robbery. Hero host rewarded A judge has praised a Norwich landlord for his bravery, and awarded him £250, after he went to the aid of three students being attacked by a group of men outside his pub. Ian Bushell, of the Rosary Tavern in Norwich, was attacked and beaten when he went to help the students. In a hearing before Norwich Crown Court, Judge Peter Jacobs awarded Bushell the £250 reward for his bravery. Then he added: "Mr Bushell must have known he was going to face some nasty customers when he was called on to help. His bravery was in sharp contrast with the thuggish and loutish behaviour of his cowardly attackers." Mark Barton, 20, was jailed for three years and nine months. David Culf, 21, was jailed for three years and Matthew Walker, 17, was given 240 hours community service. All three men, from Norwich, pleaded guilty.