Student left offended by drugs accusation at town centre pub
Damien Fowler and his friends were told to leave the Benjamin Satchwell pub in the Parade, Leamington, after they were accused of taking drugs in the toilets. Mr Fowler was distressed by the incident and now wants to clear his name. Pictured: Damien Fowler and Luka Beckett
A LEAMINGTON student wants to “clear his name” after he and his friends were told to leave a pub because they were suspected of taking drugs in the toilet.
Damien Fowler and a group of six of his friends had met for drinks in the Wetherspoon-owned Benjamin Satchwell in the Parade on Monday February 11.
But as the evening was drawing to an end they were approached by a member of staff who asked them to leave immediately.
Mr Fowler said: “He claimed there was a white powder substance found in one of the toilets, but gave no indication if it this was in the male or female toilets but looked in the direction of one of our male friends.
“He showed no interest in our response so a couple of us filmed how calm and calculated we were in confronting him over such accusations.
“None of us were in possession of drugs at all and all of us felt very offended by the accusation.
“Most of us were regular customers of the pub and would have continued to be so.”
Mr Fowler, 25, who is studying journalism and media at Coventry University, said he had regularly attended the pub since he was 18 but now felt uncomfortable about going there with friends again.
He was also concerned about visiting The Jug and Jester in fear he had been barred from other Wetherspoon establishments.
Mr Fowler said: “I can’t put my finger on it at all why he accused us.
“Some of us have long hair and tattoos but that’s not a reason to pick somebody out.
“We were sat in a booth opposite the toilets and there was a group of younger people sat near to us who were being quite loud.
“Whether any of them had something to do with it I don’t know but I don’t want to point the finger.
“To get told to leave a pub creates such a bad impression.
“I just want to clear my name.”
Mr Fowler has contacted Wetherspoon’s customer services about the incident and is awaiting a response.
Company spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are fully aware of the situation involving the group and as a company we fully back the decision made by the member of management on the day.
“We are aware that a letter of complaint has been written to our head office and that will be dealt with in due course.”
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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