THE last pub in Walthamstow High Street is to close following pressure from police.


Rakesh and Anjita Patel, who run The Chequers, were scheduled to face a licence review meeting on Tuesday but chose to shut this weekend, believing the outcome was a foregone conclusion.


The force claimed Mr Patel was an unsuitable person to run a pub following his conviction back in March 2011 for harassing police on the telephone.


They also claim the venue is known for drug use and dealing.


But the Patels believe they have been unfairly targeted by police since they complained to the press and Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) about the force's decision to just caution a man caught throwing bricks through the pub's windows in January 2011.


They said they are also suspicious about the timing of the hearing and believe police wanted the pub closed during the Olympics amid fears their resources will be stretched.


Nearly 30 customers have written to the council in support of the pub, while 437 also signed a petition in opposition to the licence review.


Documents submitted to the council state that Mr Patel was arrested shortly after the brick-throwing incident when he allegedly threatened to burn down Walthamstow Police Station.


Police evidence states: "Mr Patel fully admitted making the calls and stated that he did it out of frustration due to what he described as a lack of police action."


Then in March police say he called 164 times in one night making "false allegations" of one hundred people fighting in the street with knives, guns and a chainsaw.


Mr Patel told the Guardian he did "over-react" that night, but claims it was because he was distraught that police took four hours to attend the pub after he was attacked.


Mr Patel, 35, said: "I was aggressive towards police. I was scared and worried about getting attacked.


"I'd been knocked unconscious and, when I phoned 999, I was told no police could not attend because there was a shooting in Leytonstone.


"I made a mistake, but I don't think the crime fits the punishment. A previous owner got shot inside the pub and they didn't close it down."


His wife Mrs Patel, 29, said: "The police are victimising us. Only once in the last five years have they come to swab for drugs, and we had a low score which is normal for a typical pub."


Regular Marcus Hamilton, 61, of Church Hill in Walthamstow, said: "There's four bouncers here at night, I've never seen any trouble in here, it's a community here".


The couple now plan on handing the licence over to new management, who they hope will reopen the pub after three weeks.


Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter


Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Facebook