Rebel to appeal against 'extortionate' court order

SMOKING ban rebel Nick Hogan has vowed to fight an order to pay £10,000 for letting people smoke in his pubs.

At Bolton Magistrates Court this week the 40-year-old was fined £3,000 and told to pay costs of £7,121 but he is seeking legal advice on the matter.

Hogan, who represented himself in court, said: "I will definitely be appealing the decision and will be speaking to a lawyer.

"I think the financial penalty is extortionate considering the offence. If I was a drug dealer doing small amounts of cocaine I would probably only get a slap on the wrists."

He was found guilty of four counts of failing to stop people smoking at his two former premises, the Swan Hotel and Barristers in Bolton.

Hogan was cleared of a further similar charge and four others of obstructing council enforcement officers.

"I was cleared of 60 per cent of the charges so why do I have to pay all the costs?" he said.

"I did the same as the council enforcement officers which was to advise people of the law. It is not my job to be a policeman, it is my job to sell beer."

A Bolton Council spokeswoman said: "It is unfortunate that court action was necessary in this case but we did everything possible to try and resolve the issue with Mr Hogan prior to prosecution. This was reiterated by the District Judge who said the council's court action had been proper and wholly appropriate."