Landlord found guilty under smoke-free legislation

Mr Tony Blows, landlord of the Dog Inn public house at Ewyas Harold, has been found guilty by district judge Morgan sitting at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday, March 6, on charges laid by Herefordshire Council under the new smoke-free legislation.

It is the first prosecution by Herefordshire Council under the new legislation, which came into effect in England on July 1, 2007.

Mr Blows pleaded not guilty to all three charges laid by Herefordshire Council.

District judge Morgan said, in finding him guilty on all three counts: "There was overwhelming evidence that the law was broken on two occasions.

"The local authority went way and beyond its duties in dealing with Mr Blows. He knew people couldn't smoke in his pub and it was his duty to enforce the law."

District judge Morgan said Herefordshire Council's officers had acted in a professional and impartial way.

"People pay their council tax and expect this kind of service," he added.

Mr Blows was fined £75 for smoking in the pub and £500 on each count of allowing other people to smoke in the pub.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £10,807.

Mr Andy Tector, Herefordshire Council's head of environmental health and trading standards, said: "I am pleased the judge has praised our handling of the case and was keen to say our officers had acted in a professional and efficient way.

"The outcome of the case demonstrated that the anti-smoking legislation is effective and we will do all we can to ensure the law is not broken," he added.