Buy PPL licence or stop music, host told

Peterborough licensee Carl Bloor has been ordered by London's High Court to stop playing music at the Verve pub until he acquires the necessary music licence. Inspectors from Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) told the court they heard songs being played at the pub last September though no PPL music licence was in force. The £80 licence protects pubs against the 1956 Copyright Act, which prevents recordings being played in public without the permission of the copyright owner. Judge Mr Justice Patten also ordered Bloor ­ who did not appear in court and was not represented ­ to pay £1,200 costs within 14 days. Youth jailed for belt-whipping attack A Peterborough teenager who belt-whipped a licensee has been sentenced to a year in prison. Christopher Friel, 19, admitted wounding pub manager Paul Dudley with intent to cause bodily harm. The crown court heard how Friel lashed out with a belt after being ejected from Coopers in Bretton last November. Peter Barr, defending said: "The manager grabbed Mr Friel in a bear hug, lifted him and took him outside. Mr Friel then removed his belt and thwacked him with it twice causing severe bruising to the man's ribs." Friel said he had drunk seven pints of beer before beginning to argue with Dudley. The court also heard how Friel had a reputation as the "big man" about town and had been exposed in a national newspaper for persistent criminal activity. During sentencing, the Recorder Mr Robert Blomfield issued a warning to local youths: "Young men in this city who use violence in this way have to know if they do, they will go to prison." Police seek witnesses to pub brawl A man has been seriously injured after being beaten up by a gang of youths at a Manchester pub. The 25-year-old was left with serious damage to his arm and head following a fight with 10 young men at the Old Cock pub on Chester Road on Friday, 27 February. Local police said a brawl broke out at the pub before spilling out to the street. The man was taken to Trafford General Hospital where he is recovering. Witnesses are urged to contact Manchester police on 0161 856 7652. Birds are rescued during pub blaze Twenty exotic birds were rescued when fire tore through a Devon pub. The birds were removed from an aviary in the beer garden at the New Inn in Kilmington. A Devon Fire & Rescue spokesperson said: "We had to call the RSPCA because there were some canaries and other birds that needed rescuing from the smoke." Fire crews from nine local towns fought the blaze. Due to difficulties with low water pressure, an emergency water tanker had to be drafted in. The fire destroyed the pub's thatched roof and severely damaged the ground and first floor. A local witness said: "The flames were so intense that at one point it seemed as though houses 10ft away were in danger of catching light." Firefighters are investigating the cause of the blaze. Search is on for serial thieves' Police are warning licensees in the Bristol area to be extra vigilant after break-ins at two pubs within two hours. DC Vaughan Thomas from Nailsea Police, North Somerset, said the attacks could be the work of serial thieves. Burglars broke into the upstairs area of the Plough in Congresbury between 8pm and 10pm on Friday, 30 January while staff were working downstairs, and then stole cash from the safe. The Failand Inn, about eight miles away in Failand, was hit a little later by an almost identical break-in. In total, around £5,000 was stolen from the two pubs. Witnesses, or anyone who has any information which could help police in their enquiries, are urged to contact DC Thomas on 01934 638317.