Pubwatch gives man life ban

by John Harrington

Heanor Pubwatch in Derbyshire appears to have broken new ground by banning a serial troublemaker for life.

National Pubwatch welcomed the decision ­ and suggested other pubwatches should consider similar action when appropriate. The move came after the group's new president, Conser-vative Party vice-chairman Nigel Evans, said he believed in life bans for people who were violent in pubs.

At a recent meeting, the 38 members of Heanor and District Pubwatch decided unanimously that they could no longer tolerate 21-year-old Christ-opher Wardle in their pubs.

Wardle, of Argyle Street, Langley Mill, committed a number of violent assaults at local pubs over a three-year period.

He is currently serving a four-year sentence for assault after he attacked a man with a pool cue at the Sir Charles Napier pub in Langley Mill in May last year. The victim required 40 stitches to his face.

The Pubwatch does not usually issue bans for more than two years, but they made an exception for Wardle.

Pubwatch chairman Andy Barrett said the thug had twice been issued with two-year bans, but carried on visiting pubs regardless.

"We just kept banning him but he would go back and assault people, then he would appear in front of Pubwatch again," said Barrett, freehold owner of the Langley Mill Miners' Welfare Club.

"We didn't know what to do with him so this was our last resort. It's not something we would do lightly, but it's about sending a message."

National Pubwatch operations executive Bill Stone said: "I think it's the right action. They could be setting a precedent that other pubwatches may want to look at.

"The message has got to get across to those people that if they don't want to behave, then they are not welcome in the pub."