A VENUE owner has hailed the strength of the community as he bounces back from a burglary that saw him lose thousands of pounds.

John Easterby, who runs the Verdict Cafe Bar in Edward Street, Brighton, said he felt "violated" after thieves stole about £4,000 in cash as well as a laptop and camera.

While the police continue an investigation into the burglary, the community rallied round Mr Easterby as he looked to piece his life back together.

The 55-year-old said: "There has been a heart-warming outpouring of support and good will. It has blown me away."

Even while forensics officers were dusting for prints, one volunteer turned up to help paint the inside of the cafe.

Soon afterwards a butcher, Paul Clark, dropped in ten kilos of lamb mince to help offset Mr Easterby's loss.

Mr Clark, who runs Clark's Meat and Poultry in Lewes Road, Brighton, said: "John's been one of my loyal customers and we are all in the same boat.

"I have been through the hard times where I nearly threw the key back so I really felt for him when I heard what happened."

Mr Clark, along with up to 100 other people, attended a gathering on Thursday last week to celebrate the venue bouncing back.

Sharman Dunn, who runs the Friends of Dorset Gardens, was in attendance, having set up a Facebook event to get invitations rolling.

She said: "The best thing to do for someone who owns a business is to use it. It's quite shocking what happened but John has had the most amazing support."

Mr Easterby said: "I have lost money which has put me in a very vulnerable position. The feeling of violation is palpable.

"But far from being brought down by the experience, we are collectively fired-up, motivated and excited about the future.

"It has been a topsy-turvy emotional response. I feel really lucky - lucky beyond words to have such great staff and fortunate to run a business in this precise part of town, which I still absolutely love."

The burglary took place between 11pm on Sunday, April 24, and 7.30am on Monday, April 25.

PC Ella Graham-Scott said: "If anyone saw something suspicious overnight on Sunday we would very much like to speak with them."

Email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting reference 171 of April 25.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org

I’VE BEEN GETTING SO MUCH GOODWILL

I FEEL blessed in some ways, living in the silver lining of a dark cloud.”

Those were the words of John Easterby, the 55-year-old business owner who has been running the Verdict Cafe Bar in Edward Street for the past three years.

He has the strength of his local community to thank for the response to a potentially catastrophic situation. But his experience is just one example that demonstrates how those living in the city have the community at heart.

Brighton and Hove was named the most charitable city in the UK in 2013 and, yesterday, (May 10) a new study showed that 84 per cent of people in the city had pride in their community.

The statistics do not seem questionable given Mr Easterby’s experience, where those who knew him rallied around following a burglary.  Last month he opened the front door of his jazz venue and cafe and knew something was not right.

Looking through the back windows he could see ladders leaning against the back wall of the building and a fire escape door left ajar. And then it hit him – he had been burgled.

He said: “When I opened my office door it was a complete bomb site. They had also managed to get in through a skylight. It’s quite a dangerous and dedicated thing to do. It has been a real shock. At first I dismissed it as bad luck but the more I think about it I think we may have been targeted.

“If I’m being pessimistic, then maybe it’s someone I have looked in the eyes and spoken to at some point. But I’m hoping it was someone just down on their luck who saw a ladder and the opportunity.”

The thieves made off with about £4,000 in cash, including a £1,500 envelope which was the rent destined for Mr Easterby’s landlord. A camera and laptop were among other items taken.

With plans to relaunch the venue in the pipeline after a rollercoaster time at the helm, Mr Easterby could be forgiven for letting it get to him.

But rather than feel sorry for himself he decided the best way to react was to turn the episode into a positive. And that’s what happened.

A friend called Mick came to paint the walls inside the cafe, musicians have suggested benefit gigs and butcher Paul Clark dropped off a ten-kilo donation of lamb mince to help offset food costs.

Sharman Dunn, who runs the Friends of Dorset Gardens action group combating antisocial behaviour, set up a Facebook event called Friends Of The Verdict to get people down to the venue for an evening of fun and drinks. The event took place last Thursday (May 5).

Ms Dunn said: “The best thing to do for someone who owns a business is to use it. It was a get-together to put some of the money John lost back into the coffers.”

Mr Clark, who runs Clark’s Meat and Poultry in Lewes Road, Brighton, said: “John’s been one of my loyal customers and we are all in the same boat. We don’t earn millions so we try to help each other out.

“We need people like John in town, the small guys as opposed to the big players, in order to survive. Otherwise there’s no community – I believe in that very strongly.”

In part Mr Clark felt he needed to re-pay a favour after Mr Easterby, as a proficient photographer, took pictures for him and his wife when they got married.

Someone else present at the get-together was Andrew Cooper, the sales and account manager of Franklins Brewery, based in Bexhill.

Mr Cooper has offered to help redesign the Verdict’s bar as part of a relaunch, and find beer pumps, taps and lighting at a good price to ease the burden.

He said: “John has been a really good customer for us and very honest. If one of our beers isn’t great, he’ll let us know. We knew he was going to redesign the bar anyway and when we found out what had happened, having experience in running places we thought we would get as many people on board as possible to help out.

“We will give him as much help as we can give him. He’s had something very unfortunate happen.”

Franklins donated a cask of beer for the community night.

Beyond the goodwill, Ms Dunn made a point that will not have escaped anyone who knows the area.

She said: “What’s awful about the whole thing is that there aren’t enough police around to stop it. And that’s not even their fault as we are only seeing the start of cuts on that front.

The fact John was burgled opposite the police station is quite telling. It’s quite shocking.”

“It’s not fair that anyone gets burgled but particularly not in this case because John is so kind.”

Mr Easterby added: “The support I have had from everyone has been overwhelming. I have been getting so much goodwill. The night was lovely, really lovely, and a nice atmosphere. It’s quite humbling – these things don’t happen very often.”

NO SURPRISE THAT CARING AND CONSIDERATE CITY CAME TO AID OF VICTIM

IT SHOULD come as no surprise that the community rallied round to help John Easterby in his time of need.

After his venue, the Verdict Cafe Bar in Brighton, was burgled, a wide support network came together to help.

In 2013, Brighton and Hove was named the most charitable city in the UK following a typhoon in the Philippines.

According to figures from the Disasters Emergency Committee, residents donated more than £783,000 to its appeal. Every Brighton and Hove resident pledged the equivalent of £2.86 to the appeal, with Bristol coming next nearest at £1.65 per person.

Filipino Junjun Medran, a nurse at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, was involved in raising £6,500 for the appeal and said: “I can’t express my gratitude enough. Brighton and Hove is a great city to live in. My neighbours are wonderful.”

Last year The Argus reported on a man who lost everything in a flat fire before his local football club rallied round to help him piece his life back together.

Nick Calway, who lived in Essex Street, Brighton, last July saw his flat torched in what was believed to be a mistaken arson attack.

The Whitehawk FC ultra-fan, who suffers from autism, mental health problems and learning difficulties, received a boost when locals set up a funding website and club owner John Summers paid for his season ticket.

Mr Calway said: “It just shows what a tight-knit community we have here. They look after their own. People knock Whitehawk, but everybody here helps everyone.”

Yesterday, a new study showed that 84 per cent of people in Brighton and Hove had pride in their community.

Locals told the study by TSB that “care and consideration” were the character traits that made them most proud of their fellow residents.