Licensee's fury after thug is cautioned

A Bolton licensee is furious a teenage thug got let off with a caution after he was attacked for taking a drink off him for being underage.

The attack is a further sickening indication of the lack of protection available to responsible licensees upholding the law.

Ray Sutton, Cains lessee at the Last Orders, was left with two black eyes and a badly bruised face after being punched to the floor and kicked by a 17-year-old on Saturday, 11 August.

"I took a drink off a lad because he did not have any ID," said Sutton. "After I shut the pub I went to walk the dog but when I returned and was just about to open the door, he attacked me from behind.

"I couldn't believe he got off with a caution. I was trying to be a responsible licensee. It seems if they haven't got a criminal record they can get away with it."

The attack comes just weeks after another Bolton licensee, Michelle Parkinson of the Blue Boar pub, was punched unconscious - her attacker was also let off with a caution.

A police spokesman said: "Formal warnings and

reprimands are punishments that can, and under

government direction must, be considered for offenders under 18 who do not have previous convictions and fully admit the offence they are accused of.

"A police inspector has formally warned the offender that if in the next two years he commits a similar offence, and there is sufficient evidence against him, he will definitely face criminal charges and their consequences."