Pub loses licence after brutal attack

Memory Lane was forced to close in April, five days after the attack

A pub has lost its licence after a man was left in hospital fighting for his life following a "horrific attack".

The victim was found lying unconscious with significant blood loss after being punched more than a dozen times at Seaham's Memory Lane pub.

The venue was ordered to close in April after police and council bosses raised concerns with its management following the ordeal.

Memory Lane said the pub had been free of trouble before the incident, and attracted an older crowd through its Motown theme.

Emma Bird, designated premises supervisor, reiterated her commitment to improving the venue.

“I promise that I will have full control over anything," she said.

"This will not happen again under my watch and I will do everything to ensure that.”

However, Durham County Council's licensing committee ruled there were “clear failings” with the business and said staff lacked training, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

It revoked the licence after hearing how people in charge of the pub had disputed over the CCTV system.

'Not prepared'

A hearing on Monday was shown pictures of the victim’s injuries while lying in hospital.

It heard the man - who needed surgery to his jaw - fractured both eye sockets and lost three teeth.

Sgt Caroline Dickenson, of Durham Constabulary, said staff called an ambulance but not the police.

“CCTV has captured the assault in full and it shows a horrific attack on the victim who has significant injuries to his face," she said.

Officers were initially unable to view CCTV at the premises due to an ongoing dispute between the venue’s owners, the meeting heard.

David Comb, defending, told the committee: “This was not a premises that was in the habit of dealing with serious violence, or particularly prepared for it.

"There will have been a degree of shock for the people who worked there when this spontaneous episode of very serious violence erupted.”

Its licence was initially suspended five days after the attack.

Conservative David Brown, chair of the licensing committee, said: "Largely, that type of behaviour cannot be attributed to the licence holder. But the response has shone a light on the clear failings within this licence.

“The clear issue is the licence holder having full control of the premises, and the committee cannot be assured that the licensing objectives cannot be undermined going forward.”