Covid: Dewsbury landlord to keep licence despite breach

A group of 11 people was found watching a Leeds United game at the pub in January

A landlord who broke Covid-19 lockdown rules by letting 11 people watch football at his pub has been allowed to keep his licence.

Police had called for John Foulstone to be removed as licensee at the Woodman Inn, in Batley Carr, Dewsbury, following the incident in January.

Officers also raised claims of underage drinking, fighting and a reported sexual assault there in recent months.

However, Kirklees Council chose not to strip Mr Foulstone of his licence.

The council's licensing panel heard on Wednesday how police had found 11 people watching a Leeds United game and evidence they had been drinking, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The hearing was told none of those present had been wearing PPE and social distancing was not in place.

Panel members heard Mr Foulstone was fined £1,000 for the breach.

Police also pointed to reports of a mass brawl outside the pub in December 2019, when it was reported up to 100 people were fighting and throwing bricks.

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A solicitor representing Mr Foulstone told the panel the Covid breaches were "unacceptable", but disputed police claims that alcohol had been sold at the pub during lockdown.

He said the fighting in December 2019 had taken place outside the pub and those involved had been refused entry.

He also told the panel there was "no widespread practice" of serving alcohol to underage people and said the sexual assault was alleged to have taken place when the pub was shut.

Stopping short of revoking the licence, the panel instead imposed a series of conditions, including installing CCTV and hiring door staff.

Mr Foulstone was also ordered to complete a Licence Holder's Course from the British Institute of Innkeeping.