CLAIMS have been made that a man was beaten unconscious outside the Weymouth Angling Society in Commercial Road two years ago after an earlier exchange over a bar bill.
The victim says that although other people knew what was happening no one intervened – and when police investigated the CCTV could not be found. The club claimed there had been a power outage overnight – although a copy of the CCTV was handed to the victim months later.
Dorset Police say they have ‘serious concerns’ that the club were not forthcoming with the CCTV images and have suggested the Premises Licence be revoked unless councillors are convinced the behaviour will not happen again.
The attacker is said to have come from inside the club to carry out the assault and then went back inside afterwards. He claimed that he was acting in self-defence.
The claims will all be examined in a review of the club’s Premises Licence undertaken by a panel of councillors, which the club is defending.
It says that new committee members are now in place with the club fully compliant with all the rules and regulations relating to its Premises (drinks) licence. Prior to the incident there had never been any concerns about how it was being run and the club say there is no need for any concerns now.
The licence review has been called by the victim, who no longer lives in the area. He claims the club did not comply with the the licensing conditions of prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.
Among the remedies open to the Dorset Council licensing panel when it meets on Wednesday is to permanently or temporarily revoke the licence which would mean the club having to stop selling alcohol, or to impose new conditions and terms on the licence; or to leave the existing licence in place as it is.
“The newly elected committee is ensuring its constitution is upheld and that the club is run in compliance with its obligations and licensing objectives,” said the club in a statement in advance of the review.
#The club also warns in a statement that it will seek legal advice about whether or not to bring action over what it describes as false statements about the running of the club.
Mr Martyn Longman, in his 50s, who describes himself as a former member of the club, said in a statement to Dorset Council, which owns the land the club is on, that at the time of the incident he was often living on a boat moored nearby and frequently drank at the club bar.
He says the assault happened days after he commented that someone had been under-charged for drinks.
His statement said that on September 16th 2023, he was followed out of the club in the afternoon and assaulted from behind in a doorway, the assault continuing in the car park, leaving him unconscious on the pavement, with a member of the public coming to his aid and resulting in a hospital overnight stay.
He claims at least three people came out from the club but then returned inside, taking no action.
“Everyone in the club at the time knew what was going on, yet not one of them came to my assistance,” he said.
“I reported all of this to the police, but when they went to the club they were told that the CCTV was not working, and all the people that they spoke to said, conveniently, that they did not see or witness anything.”
He said that he had since been sent a copy of the CCTV showing the assault on him which he has offered to the panel which will review the Premises Licence.
Dorset Police say in a statement to the panel that a suspect interviewed at the time claimed he had punched Mr Longman because he believed he was about to be assaulted by him and was acting in self-defence.
Dorset Police decided to take no action at the time of the initial investigation, the CCTV only becoming available after their six-month cut off for a prosecution to be considered.
Said a police statement to the licensing panel: “Violence associated with persons holding positions of authority within licensed premises cannot be acceptable and whilst the Licensing Team within Dorset Police expect high standards of delivery to maintain safety for patrons and promotion of the licensing objectives, this activity fell short of the most basic standards of behaviour expected of a private club member. The lack of welfare and the reluctance to support Police in their investigation further enhances these concerns.”
Related item: Weymouth Angling society hearing held in private
Weymouth Angling Society