Licensee helps capture alleged fraudster targeting pubs

Jon Hutchings, of the White Hart Hotel in Holsworthy, Devon, helped track the man down after he had paid his £100 bar tab with an allegedly worthless cheque.

Hutchings heard from another local publican who had also been targeted by the man.

He recognised the description and realised that the man had just exited the White Hart in a taxi.

Hutchings said: “Luckily we’re in a small town and there are only two taxi firms here, so we were able to find out that he was going to Torrington.

“So I went down to Torrington and found him in another pub — the Black Horse — tucking into a 16oz T-bone steak. I told the licensee what was going on and called the police.”

Bev Hayler, licensee at the Black Horse, said: “Thank goodness Jon followed the man here. If he hadn’t have thought of doing so, I could have been down a week’s worth of bills. Luckily I’ve lost only £35 — though he had the most expensive meal on the menu.

“The police took about an hour to turn up, which felt like forever, so we tried our best to keep the man sweet with lots of tea and biscuits.

“It’s made us very wary of taking bookings from people just walking in. He had booked in for a night and then a further two weeks for himself and a friend.”

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that David Michael Brown, a 55-year-old man from Torrington, was charged with four counts of fraud and was due to appear in a magistrates court last Saturday.

He added: “A 55-year-old man was arrested while at a pub in Torrington, Devon, at around 9pm on Thursday evening, 10 May. This is in connection with alleged false representation offences through the fraudulent
use of cheques.”

Hutchings advised licensees to be wary of unfamiliar customers running up large bills, adding: “I’ve printed out a previous PMA article about this and posted it on the staff noticeboard to show why we should always take payment upfront.”

Eye on the Trade​

The PMA has relaunched its Eye on the Trade initiative to fight for licensees who have been targeted by fraudsters and rogue traders. We want to expose people and businesses trying to take your cash under false pretences. Email your stories to pma.scams@wrbm.com