A South Pembrokeshire nightclub has had its licence restored after it was revoked three months ago. Jammo's Nightclub, Penally, had its licence revoked by Pembrokeshire County Council's licensing sub- committee in May after a call from Dyfed Powys Police for a review of the premises' licence. At that hearing, Inspector Les Clark, of Dyfed Powys Police, listed a record of offences that had taken place at the club, including examples of assaults, anti-social behaviour, drug possession, alcohol- related offences, with children as young as 14 being listed in the recorded incidents. There were also problems on trains between Pembroke Dock and Penally. At the hearing in May, the club's licensee, Mr. Michael Haines, applied for an adjournment as he had experienced a number of problems in finding a solicitor in time to represent him. However, the licensing sub-committee felt that the hearing should take place in the best interests of all parties present. As a result, Mr. Haines left the chamber, instructing them to deal with the matter in his absence, as he felt he wouldn't receive a fair hearing without proper representation. Mr. Haines later appealed against the decision, and at a hearing on Tuesday, it was upheld by magistrates, who also imposed a number of new conditions to the licence. The council were awarded £750 costs. "The magistrates said that they understood why the council's licensing sub-committee came to the decision that it did on May 8," said a spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council afterwards. "The bench also said that the fact that Mr. Haines chose to defend himself without legal representation left the committee with reduced options and the magistrates said that they did not feel that the decision to revoke the licence was unnecessary in the circumstances." In allowing the appeal, six new conditions were imposed on the licence, one being that no under 18s would be allowed into the nightclub. In a statement issued following the hearing, Mr. Haines said: "Jammo's nightclub has won its appeal against the revocation of the licence. After two days of the trial, the prosecution capitulated. The case was stopped in full flow and a deal was struck between the two parties. "The prosecution case was dismantled by the defence solicitor, Mr. Bill Parry, who said this case should never have gone to court. The magistrates stated that I nor Jammo's could be held responsible for problems on Arriva Trains or stations along the route. The 24 offences occurring over the year were all reported to the police by Jammo's management and, therefore, I was in fact doing my duty as a manager to the full extent of what would be expected of a licensee. "Both parties sat around a table and six mutually agreed conditions were added to the existing licence, these being: Jammo's to continue to be an over 18s club, as it has been since March; four forms of agreed ID to be requested for anyone looking under age (these being driving licence, valid date card, passport or pass plus card - any one of these would be acceptable); the car park gates to be locked after closing time to prevent overnight stays; the lights outside the club to remain on until all parties have left the area; at least two SIA doorpersons to patrol the outside of the club at closing and until all persons have left the area; upgrade current CCTV to digital over the next seven months. "The whole case was a terrible experience and I wouldn't like anyone to go through it like myself and my wife were made to do," concluded Mr. Haines. "We feel totally vindicated and are pleased that justice prevailed. We are planning a big Bank Holiday party to celebrate so all our friends and customers can have a good night out."
