A LICENSING hearing ended in violence when the owner of a Sandown hotel, angered by the partial loss of his licence following allegations of under-age drinking and drug abuse at the premises, was arrested after an alleged assault on a police officer.
Alan Westwater, owner of the Seagrove Hotel, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting PC Adrian Cleightonhills following Monday’s hearing at County Hall.
The IW Council’s licensing sub-committee agreed to exclude hotel bar Ruby’s from the licence, following reports of drug abuse and anti-social behaviour. Police, who requested the licensing review, said there had been no problems with the rest of the Seagrove Hotel, which caters mainly for older holidaymakers.
Environmental health officers reported patrons smoking cannabis at the High Street Ruby’s premises and found white powder residue on a toilet cistern, while concerns were raised at Sandown Pubwatch meetings about groups of drunk youths loitering outside the bar, swearing loudly and fighting.
Licensing consultant Brian Oxford, representing Durham-based licence holders Lasston Ltd, said drug use was not tolerated at Ruby’s and claimed most of the complaints were based on hearsay. He said many of the allegations had been made by a neighbouring hotelier, Christopher McDonald, because of an ongoing dispute.
But PC Cleightonhills said there was clear evidence of anti-social behaviour at Ruby’s, which was essentially separate from the Seagrove Hotel and should not be permitted to operate under the same licence. He said Ruby’s manager, Tom Henderson, would be unable to obtain a personal licence because of past drug convictions.
Lasston managing director Mr Westwater, 70, of County Durham, was questioned at Newport Police Station and bailed until November 20, pending further enquiries.