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From the
http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk 27 January 2010.
Tavern of terror is closed after murder.
A PUB where a serious assault took place hours before a traveller was
killed has had its licence suspended for three months. Bromley police
believed problems were so bad at the "Priory Tavern" in Orpington High
Street that they had asked Bromley council to revoke the licence at a
sub-committee meeting last Friday, saying it had been run in a
"deplorable" way.
Police licensing officer, Andrew Waddington, highlighted the pub's
history of violence and said customers had been allowed to drink
themselves into stupors and smoke at the bar.
He said the terms of the licence had also broken by not always having
a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), someone who takes responsibility
for the pub and the licence had already been called in for review last
August because of public nuisance caused by noise.
The premise is owned by Enterprise Inns, a property organisation
which has hundreds of pubs across the country.
During the meeting at the Civic Centre in Stockwell Close, police
drew attention to the fight which happened at around 11pm last October
30 with children present as glass flew during the brawl which left a
woman lying unconscious on the floor.
She was the partner of traveller Moses Devall, 36, who was stabbed to
death hours later.
One man has since been charged with his murder while four others are
due in the dock accused of the woman's assault.
Although the murder squad said Mr Devall's death which took place in
St Paul's Cray had nothing to do with the pub, Mr Waddington said an
atmosphere lacking any control had been allowed to develop there.
He said: "We believe this premises has failed to conduct their
business in the way that it should be.
"The way that they have conducted their business has been deplorable.
Offences have been committed which had led to breaches of crime and
disorder aspect of the licence."
His statement to the council read: "A serious assault took place
between a group of females and males, one receiving serious facial
injuries and being knocked unconscious to the floor where she remained
for some time. The incident took place on a dance floor. The partner of
the victim was later fatally stabbed. This was not at the premises but
is inextricably linked to the assault of the female."
CCTV showed staff making no attempt to break up the fight and no call
was made to the police for several minutes.
Mr Waddington added: "Enterprise Inns have retained the premises
licence and as such are responsible for how the premises are run.
"It is quite clear that up until this point that they have asserted
absolutely no control over how these premises were being run."
But solicitor for Enterprise Inns Claire Johnson said "I'm not
sitting here by any stretch of the imagination saying everything is fine
- quite the opposite.
"We know that we have got and had serious problems at this premises.
"We have to ask if the incident on October 30 had not happened
whether we would be sitting here.
"It could have happened anywhere. This is something that needs to be
taken into consideration. Had that not happened at this premises I don't
think we would be here this morning."
Councillors took around an hour to come to a decision for the licence
to be suspended for three months.
A spokesperson for Enterprise, which has until end of February to
appeal the decision, said: "We will work with the local authority to
find a solution for this pub."
When it does re-open there are to be no children allowed after 7pm,
two door supervisors on Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm to closing
and there is to be a challenge 25 policy whereby anyone who looks under
that age will be asked for ID.
James Saunders, 20, of Powerscroft Road, Sidcup, is charged with the
murder of Moses Devall. He appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday (25) and
spoke only confirm his name. He did not enter a plea.
His brothers, William Saunders, 22, of Manor Road, Sidcup and John
Saunders, 29, of Powerscroft Road, Sidcup are accused attacking Mr
Devall's partner, Sarah Schock, on the same day.
Their sister Charmaine Coates, also known as Laura Sanders, 28, and
her husband 30-year-old Levi or Elijah Coates are also accused of
assaulting Ms Schock.
They are jointly charged with causing grievous bodily harm.
Charmaine Coates appeared in the dock with James Saunders, the
remaining three defendants appeared via prison videolink. All five are
due to face trial on May 10. The case is expected to last up to five
weeks. They are next due in court on February 18.
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