Drugs-swoop pub ordered to close

CLOSURE order: no festive drinks at The Sportsman this year

A CHADDERTON pub has been ordered to shut down temporarily after police found class A and B drugs.

The Sportsman in Denton Lane, owned by Enterprise Inns, was raided at 7.20pm on Sunday.

Insp Paul Walker told Oldham Councilis licence panel hearing how he was met by more than 40 “anti-police” people in the pub and that two small children were playing next to a table with cocaine under it. A man was found snorting cocaine in the toilets.

David Kent, solicitor for Greater Manchester Police, asked for the pub’s licence to be suspended.

He said officers could smell cannabis even after collecting class A drugs and found bags of the drug with a street value of £500 in living accommodation above the bar, as well as £3,000 in cash.

Mr Kent added: “We believe there has been serious crime committed by way of possession of class B drugs with intent to supply. Class A drugs were found in the bar with children playing close by _ this is a community pub.”

Richard Williams, the pub’s acting solicitor, said he had doubts whether the incidents had fallen into the category of serious crime.

“The person in possession of cocaine in the toilets has been dealt with by a caution. I am not diminishing the fact that drugs have been found, but that is not a serious crime. Personal use of cocaine is not a serious crime which would allow a summary review. There simply isn’t the evidence here to suggest that cocaine dealing is going on.”

He added that no scales were found and that the £3,000 found was takings for the week, some of which would be paid in cash, legitimately, as staff wages.

Finbar Tuite, the premises’ licence holder, admitted taking drugs and having snap-top bags to take quantities of cannabis or cocaine out with him to parties.

He denied there had been any physical threats to police and said if people were aggressive it was probably because they felt their night out had been disrupted. He said he had no agreements with anyone that they could use the pub for drug-taking.

Members of the licensing panel meeting yesterday afternoon decided to temporarily suspend the pub’s licence.

Chairman, Councillor John Battye said the panel was satisfied the pub was involved with illicit drugs and suspended the licence until January 17, when a full review will be heard.

Supt Gary Simpson said: “This pub is associated with organised crime and following our intelligence-led operation two of those arrested have been given fixed-penalty notices and two have been cautioned for possession of class A or B drugs.”

No further action has been taken against four people for possession of class A drugs.

A 38-year old man was arrested for possession with intent to supply cannabis, and has been bailed until February pending police inquiries.