Legends nightclub on Viaduct Street under closure threat following ‘gun robbery’ claims
Nov 12 2010 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Legends nightclub on Viaduct Street under threat following ‘gun robbery’ claims
A NIGHTCLUB is under threat of closure after a reveller claimed he was robbed by gun-toting thugs.
Police called for an emergency review of the licence at Legends on Viaduct Street in Huddersfield over concerns it has become a magnet for crime and disorder.
Owner Dominic Pinnock must comply with a raft of strict conditions if he wants to open before the review takes place.
But he said the allegations of trouble had been exaggerated – and claimed he was being unfairly treated.
Mr Pinnock said: “99.9% of our customers are well behaved and the level of incidents we have had is much lower than most town centre bars and clubs.”
As reported on Tuesday, police were called to Legends shortly after 3am on Sunday after a 45-year-old man was robbed in the toilets.
His gold chain was stolen and he suffered a minor arm injury in the assault.
Police closed the club to look for a weapon.
John McFadzean, licensing sergeant for Kirklees police, said there were reports a gun was used.
He added: “We had some intelligence in the past couple of weeks that there had been shots fired in the club.
“We carried out a visit and the manager came up with explanations that we couldn’t disprove.
“The club was given some advice, but then on Saturday there was the robbery inside the premises.
“One of the statements said a gun had been used.”
A 38-year-old man who was arrested was found to be carrying 25 wraps of suspected class A drugs, Sgt McFadzean said.
He added: “We are concerned the club’s not being run in an efficient way and if we allow it to continue problems could escalate.”
The robbery came less than a month after 31-year-old Roy Scott was jailed for four years and nine months for stabbing bouncer Edward Nowell outside the club on March 28.
The attack happened after Scott was thrown out of the club for forcing his way in.
Mr Pinnock said the incident proved club security was tight.
“We take public safety very seriously,” he added.
“A lot of the evidence police are bringing forward is quite fragile because it’s hearsay. It’s not concrete and with these types of claims it is easy to create public panic.”
Kirklees Council’s licensing committee yesterday agreed to the police’s request for an emergency review of the club’s licence.
Licensing manager Cath Walter said: “They shared the police’s concerns and felt that the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder, protecting children from harm and protecting public safety weren’t being met.”
