By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:08, Thursday, 14 March 2013

The trial of a former pub landlady accused of breaching her licence has been put back for the third time after a key witness could not attend.

Anita Jean Gilpin, 52, faces four counts of carrying on an unauthorised licensable activity while she ran the Apple Tree on Finkle Street, Workington.

It is alleged that she permitted drunken and riotous behaviour, failed to always have at least two staff on duty, failed to maintain CCTV and retain images for 28 days, and allowed a child under 14 in the bar against the conditions of her licence.

Gilpin, who still lives at the pub but no longer runs it, denies all the charges.

The case first went to court in May and was listed for trial in September.

The trial was put back to January after new information came to light.

It was then delayed again as Allerdale council licensing officer Ken Sharples was on holiday.

Mrs Gilpin was due to face a two-day trial starting before district judge Gerald Chalk at West Cumbria Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

But as the trial was due to begin, Mr Chalk was told that Mr Sharples had been signed off work because of stress and could not attend.

Defence solicitor John Cooper said Mr Sharples’ evidence was key to the case.

Mr Chalk agreed to relist the trial for June 12 and 13.

Mr Sharples will be summoned to attend.

First published at 11:56, Thursday, 14 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk