ARMED response police were called in to deal with a riot at a Cwmbran pub, because it was deemed too dangerous for unarmed officers to enter, a court heard.

The revelation was just one of a number of incidents at the Square Inn, brought up during a hearing into whether Iain Crockett can continue to run the pub, dubbed one of the worst pubs for disorder.

Torfaen Council revoked the designated premises supervisor's licence on December 17 last year, but this week Cwmbran Magistrates are listening to Mr Crockett's appeal against the decision.

Torfaen’s licensing officer, PC Jim Aitken, said the incident at the Gwent Square pub last October was the worst he had encountered.

Around 50 people brawled for 20 minutes in a succession of fights until officers pinned the offenders against the walls with tazer beams.

Other incidents included a man being attacked with a metal chair, being kicked while on the floor and having part of his ear bitten off in June 2007 and men selling stolen TVs from Asda to customers in April 2009.

PC Aitken said in the first nine months of 2009, police were called to 150 incidents at the Gwent Square premises.

Its basement nightclub only had a capacity of 100, but the Square Inn was the third worst licensed premises for disorder in the whole of Gwent, behind Escapade and Revolution which each have a capacity of more than 1,000.

Representing Mr Crockett, Philip Kolvin QC, said his client bought the venue in 2005, through his drinks wholesale business, Foxstead Ltd.

He invested £250,000, putting a pool area upstairs and creating the basement nightclub which was open until 1.30am Thursday until Saturday.

Mr Kolvin said the basement was closed in October after the brawl, which led to a 90 per cent reduction in incidents.

Mr Crockett said he has now put a zero tolerance policy in place, while manager Teresa Harris said it is now a “community pub”, attracting only 25 people.

PC Aitken said management are unable to control the “criminal element that frequent it”.

Other tenants from Gwent Square such as Cwmbran Shopping, Congress Theatre and Pure Rugby also gave statements about pub users intimidating, abusing and stealing.

The pub is still open while the appeal is being heard.

Proceeding