9:22am Saturday 12th February 2011
By Megi Rychlikova
A LANDLORD who was jailed following a violent drink-fuelled attack could be free to run pubs again within months.
Jack William Lindon stamped on a man’s head as he lay, probably unconscious, in Spurriergate, shortly after 1.30am on July 18.
Lindon, 23, has since lost his job as landlord of the Old Ebor pub in Nunnery Lane.
But because the judge who sentenced him did not revoke his personal alcohol licence, he remains eligible to be a landlord elsewhere when he finishes his sentence.
Lindon’s barrister, Nicholas Barker, told the Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, the licensing authority would make the decision on Lindon’s future after the court case.
But City of York Council, which issues alcohol licences for people and premises, said after the case it could not revoke personal licences. That power was held by the courts. A police spokesman also confirmed the power lay with the courts.
Mr Barker said during the sentencing hearing: “He (Lindon) has written to the licensing authority. He would expect them to say he could no longer be a licence holder. They will await the outcome to these proceedings before they make a judgement.”
The judge made no reference to his power to end Lindon’s career in his sentencing remarks. Earlier, prosecuting barrister David Hall told him Lindon was the licensee of the Old Ebor public house.
Every landlord must hold a personal licence. In addition, every pub must have a premises licence with a designated premises supervisor or landlord. The supervisor for the Old Ebor pub used to be Lindon – and is now landlady Ria Chauda. Local councils can change or revoke a premises licence – and York council approved the change of supervisor for the Old Ebor pub.
Lindon, who used to live at the Old Ebor, was jailed for eight months after pleading guilty to actual bodily harm.
The court heard that Lindon hit Andrew Bell when their respective groups encountered each other in Spurriergate. Mr Bell appeared to be unconscious. Lindon then kicked him in the side of the body and stamped on his head.
Mr Barker said Lindon’s memory of the incident was “clouded by the amount of alcohol he had had.”
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