Express & Star

Tipton pub with violent history could reopen

A Black Country pub which was the scene of a shooting and deliberate hit-and-run is applying for its licence to be reviewed.

Published
Last updated
The Harrier pub in Tipton

Councillors will meet next week to consider an application by Mr Sukwinder Singh to allow The Harrier, on Powis Avenue, Tipton, to sell alcohol seven days a week.

Sandwell’s licensing committee is being asked to decide if the public house can reopen under new management.

In October 2013, a woman who had been drinking at The Harrier drove her car at a crowd of people after a row erupted among drinkers, before running over a man twice, and then lying that her car had been stolen in a bid to avoid justice.

Abigail Ratcliffe, of Beverston Road, Tipton, was sentenced to a 10-month jail sentence for dangerous driving while over the drink limit, after a court was told it was a "miracle" her teenage victim had not been more seriously hurt.

She drove at speed towards the crowd of people outside the pub and a male passenger then got out of the car and punched an 18-year-old to the floor.

The vehicle then reversed over him before driving away but returned and ran over the victim’s legs. Ratcliffe drove away again, and then phoned 999 six times claiming her car had been stolen.

She told the police her car had been found burnt out while also calling her friend who works at The Harrier pub to inquire about CCTV.

Sher later pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court and was imprisoned for ten months and disqualified from driving for two years.

It was the second violent offence at the pub which two years earlier was sealed off by police after a shot was fired through a window. No-one was hurt in the shooting.

A report to councillors said the fire service has objected to the application but details of the objection have not been made public.

The committee will meet on August 27 to make its decision.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.