LEYTONSTONE: Pub's licence revoked after drug bust (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LEYTONSTONE: Pub's licence revoked after drug bust

2:55pm Friday 14th November 2008 in Search By Sarah Cosgrove

A PUB’S licence was revoked after undercover police officers were offered drugs, illegal DVDs and after-hours drinks on the premises.

Lincolns, in High Road, Leytonstone, is a hotbed of drug dealing, noise and anti-social behaviour, according to residents, councillors and police.

But the licencees said the complaints were motivated by racism rather than solid evidence and appealed to keep the pub open.

During an undercover operation on June 19, PC Charlene Grant said she overheard two men discussing cannabis before one came over and offered to sell her the drug.

She said: “He said to me ‘you look like you take Charlie, it’s a shame as the man who had just left deals that.’”

She also claimed she saw the landlord buying illegal DVDs, which he denied, and during a separate operation in May, crack cocaine was found on a man searched after leaving Lincolns. He told police he had bought the drug in the pub.

Police who asked for the venue’s licence to be revoked at the licensing act sub-committee held last Thursday called Lincolns “a centre for crime and disorder”.

Residents vehemently agreed, complaining of late night shouting and screaming and patrons urinating in the street.

“For years our lives have been blighted by this pub. Fighting stabbings and drug dealing are but a few of the problems,” said Sam Piyasena of Davies Lane, Leytonstone.

Neighbour Flash Bristow, added: “This kind of anti social behaviour makes my life hell every single week. It’s clear the licencees are not in control.”

Council leader Clyde Loakes was one of three councillors who spoke on the behalf of residents.

“This pub is beyond saving,” he said. “This pub is damaging our local community. Year after year after year we are here. Enough is enough.”

But Lincolns operations manager Jerry Nyoni said there was no evidence to back up the claims and challenged police to produce the drugs they were offered.

“We want them to see us as human beings, being black doesn’t mean that I’m incompetent,” he said.

“Sometimes there are scuffles but we’ve been lucky, there has only been one in the past year.”

Manager Marshall Marphosa added: “The magnitude of problems does not happen, if they did we would have been closed down.”

Lincoln’s owners Trust Inns asked for the licence to be transferred to them, but were turned down.

They have 21 days to appeal the decision and the pub can continue to trade.