Four jailed over licensee's murder
Three men have been jailed for life for beating a licensee to death in his bedroom while they raided the pub's safe to get cash for drugs. Michael Hughes, 59, who was licensee at the Royal Oak in Pensall, Walsall, was struck eight times on the head by one of the gang after they broke in through the pub's French windows. The three men then fled with the pub safe, which contained £1,700. The empty safe was later found by police dumped in a nearby canal. The judge at Stafford Crown Court on Friday, ordered Gavin Chapman, 25, of Blakenall Lane, Blakenall, Walsall, to serve a minimum of 20 years. The same recommendation was made for Lee Worgan, 24, of Victoria Avenue, Bloxwich, Walsall. Stephen Lockley, 19, of Harebell Close, Heath Hayes, Cannock, Staffordshire, was ordered to serve at least 17 years because he was under 21. A fourth defendant, Tonya Steemson, 28, of Victoria Avenue, Bloxwich, was given three years for burglary and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Matlock man banned for bottle attack A man has been banned from all pubs in Matlock and Matlock Bath in Derbyshire after he hit another man over the head with a bottle. Daniel Stone, 20, has also been placed on a four-month curfew from 7.30pm until 5am, when he appeared at Derby Crown Court last Thursday. The court heard Stone, of St John's Road, Matlock, carried out the attack outside a club in Dale Road, Matlock in April. Stone was ordered to pay costs of £660 and £400, and must attend an anger management course. He faces one year in jail if he breaks the terms of his restrictions. Man injured in pub shooting Three people have been arrested in connection with a shooting at a pub in Chorlton, Manchester on Saturday night. A 46-year-old is in a stable condition in hospital after he was shot in the stomach at the Sedgelynn pub on Manchester Road at around 8.50pm. A 41-year-old man from Old Trafford, a 43-year-old man from Moss Side and a 33-year-old woman from Baguley have been arrested in connection with the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call West Didsbury Police on 0161 856 6153. Relaunch aims to deter idiots' Two Pubwatch schemes in Lincolnshire have been relaunched to boost their profile and deter troublemakers from going to pubs in the region. Posters, sponsored by Carlsberg and featuring a new logo, have been sent to all 60 pubs in the Louth and Mablethorpe & Sutton Pubwatches. Currently 38 people have been banned from the pubs under the two schemes. Punters risk being banned for up to two years if they assault staff or deal Class A drugs. Both Pubwatches have been in place for several years. Michael Kheng, chairman of both schemes and owner of Kai's Bar in Louth, said: "This is about getting the profile up so everyone knows what we are doing. We want responsible people to feel more comfortable and the idiots to stay away." Kheng said that attendance at monthly Pubwatch meetings was generally good, with representatives from most of the main town-centre pubs turning up. But he added: "Like every Pubwatch it would be nice to have a better turn out." Six charged over Morley murder Six people five of them teenagers have been charged with the murder of London barman David Morley. The barman, who was 37, from Chiswick, died after he was attacked on 30 October near Hungerford Bridge on London's South Bank. The six were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday 15 November, as the Morning Advertiser went to press. They also face charges of violent disorder, conspiracy to rob and attempted GBH on two other people. Four other people have been bailed to return to separate south London police stations in connection with the incident.
