Barmaid traumatised in armed raid
Nine masked men one armed with a gun and others with Samurai swords forced staff at a Midlands pub to hand over takings before they robbed customers.
The gang burst into the Crown in Sedgley High Street just before closing time, making off with thousands of pounds and items including wallets, jewellery and mobile phones.
One attacker forced a barmaid, at gun point, to open tills, gambling machines and touch-screen quiz games.
The worker said she was so traumatised that she has vowed never to work behind a bar again.
Before leaving, the gang cut the landline phone so the police could not be called. Licensee David Deeming said: "It was a horrific experience for everyone involved, the gang just didn't care what they were doing."
Police have warned that the raid could be linked to break-ins at other pubs in the area. They urged licensees to double-check security.
Wine stolen from fire-damaged pub
A 900-year-old Berkshire pub was raided soon after its thatched roof was gutted by fire.
A quantity of wine was stolen from the Greyhound in Tidmarsh on the morning of Sunday 27 February after raiders broke in.
The previous morning, a fire, which was believed to have started in the chimney, destroyed the thatched roof.
Failed pub arsonist jailed for four years
A man, who was left with serious burns after he tried to torch a Liverpool pub, has been jailed for four years.
Geoffrey Hirst, 29, tried to set fire to the Myrtle pub in Birkenhead because he had a grudge against one of its regular customers, Liverpool Crown Court heard last week.
He admitted arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Henry Riding, prosecuting, said the licensee was woken by police soon after 2.45am on 14 April 2004 because they noticed the ground-floor window had been smashed.
Canisters and petrol were found inside the pub. A security guard saw flames coming from Hirst's jacket.
When arrested, Hirst told officers he was involved in a dispute with a gangster who drank in the pub.
ASBO infringer remanded in custody
A man has admitted breaking his Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) by entering a pub.
An ASBO was given to 42-year-old Christopher George Dickerson in March last year. This banned him from entering, amongst other places, a pub in Chelmsley Wood, Warwick.
But Warwick Crown Court was told last week that Dickerson had since been seen in a pub in Bosworth Drive and was "verbally abusive to the landlady".
Dickerson, of Lea Hill Croft, Chelmsley Wood, admitted breaching his ASBO and was remanded in custody.
Charles Royle, mitigating, said the offence carries up to five years in prison. He admitted that Dickerson "had been an alcoholic in the past" but said: "He has succeeded in rehabilitation quite considerably."
Raid nets heroin, cocaine and cannabis
The owner and the manager of a Durham pub have been released on bail, pending further enquiries, after drugs were found in a police raid on the premises.
Heroin, cocaine and cannabis were seized during a raid on the Sportsman's Bar in Second Street, Horden, on Sunday.
All 40 people in the pub were searched during the raid. Eight men were arrested. Six of these were released five given official cautions, and one being released without any action.
Under-age drinking prompts fresh sting
A fresh sting operation on under-age drinkers at pubs and clubs in Newcastle is under way, after two city-centre pubs were caught serving under 18s.
Police said they were considering what action to take against the two offending venues.
Chief inspector Dave Jackson said: "More test purchases are planned over the coming weeks and months, and action will be taken against those who break the law."
