Beccles business owner loses licence after application by Suffolk Police

A bar and restaurant owner has lost his licence following an application by police.

Suffolk Constabulary asked East Suffolk Council's licensing sub-committee to revoke the premises licence for Wine Vaults Bar and Restaurant in 2A Blyburgate, Beccles, on the grounds of prevention of crime and disorder.

The hearing, which took place yesterday afternoon, followed charges levelled against Christopher Nunn, the owner, for theft; fraud by misrepresentation; and concealing, disguising, converting and the transfer of criminal property-money laundering.

James Winter-Whitaker, of Fisher and Co Solicitors, who represented Mr Nunn, requested a decision be delayed until 'further material' could be obtained.

After some debate, councillors denied the solicitor's request.

Cllr Mark Jepson said he was worried Mr Nunn was 'playing games' and argued there had been enough time under normal procedure.

Presenting Suffolk Constabulary's case, John Corkett, the force's licensing officer, said Mr Nunn's actions came to light in 2023 when a member of the public bought a LexisNexis legal book off Amazon for half the usual price the company charged.

According to Mr Corkett, the sale was made through a company, the director of which was Mr Nunn.

Mr Corkett said Mr Nunn was then traced back to his employers, a printing firm in Bungay, and found to have stolen more than £300,000 over a period of possibly eight years.

Mr Nunn pleaded guilty in court to the charge of theft.

The two remaining charges are being kept on file, meaning they have not been dropped but are left on file so they can be resurrected in the future if it becomes necessary.

The police's application to councillors, which was kept confidential, included reports into money transactions between Mr Nunn's accounts and the Wine Vaults Bar and Restaurant account.

A representation in support of the police's request for the licence's removal was received from another business.

Mr Corkett said: "We say this is all evidence of dishonesty, Mr Nunn is a dishonest person and Mr Nunn should not be running a licensed premises because we do not have any confidence that he will run it in a respectable and proper way."

Mr Corkett said if councillors decided to keep the licence, it would send the wrong message.

Due to the nature of the information, which included confidential financial details, the remainder of the meeting was held in closed session.

In the end, councillors decided to revoke the licence.