A hard-up man was caught working as a bouncer at two Aberdeen nightspots despite not having the proper qualifications.
John Chalmers got a job as a door steward and worked shifts at the adults-only No 7 Club on Crown Street and at Cafe Drummond on Belmont Street before police spotted him and realised he didn’t have a licence.
Fiscal depute Anne MacDonald told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “The accused at one point did hold a licence to be a door steward but this expired on December 18, 2020.
“We have these incidents on two dates where he was acting as a steward without that particular licence.”
She said Chalmers worked on the door at Number 7 Club on Saturday September 4 last year and at Cafe Drummond on Saturday, October 9 last year.
Dressed like a bouncer
“The accused had been in Aberdeen Sheriff Court on October 18 2021 and had been released on bail,” the fiscal added.
“It was as a result of the bail conditions and further investigations made thereafter that these offences came to light.”
She said that on both occasions he was “wearing a door steward armband” and clothing to suggest he was a legitimate bouncer.
On the second occasion, he approached officers, who again were attending the premises on an unrelated incident, himself to report that he’d just been verbally abused by a member of the public.
Chalmers admitted two charges of working as a steward without a Security Industry Authority Licence from the regulatory body.
The Crown accepted a not guilty plea to allegations he also did so at the Scottish Embassy pub on Trinity Street on September 11, 2021.
‘He was struggling financially’
Defence agent Stuart Murray said Chalmers had been desperate for money and asked his friend, who owned the security company providing stewards to the premises, for work.
Had it gone to trial that friend was going to claim he’d been shown relevant documentation, but that’s something Chalmers denies he offered, his solicitor said.
“The employer did say in the summary of evidence that Mr Chalmers provided a card which showed that his certificate was currently live but Mr Chalmers disputes that,” he said.
The court was told Chalmers, who started work as a builder this week, had been struggling for money at the time.
“He was struggling financially, he had just come out of a long-term relationship with a partner and he took nothing from the relationship,” Mr Murray explained.
“In order to find entry-level accommodation, and I’m talking about a bedsit, he continued acting as a door steward because it was providing work for him.”
Sheriff Joseph Platt told Chalmers: “Your financial situation was what took you to commit these offences that are taken seriously by the court.
“The regulations are in place to protect the public to ensure that only people who have met the particular tests can act as door stewards.”
He fined Chalmers, of Hospital Close, Ellon, £760.
Following the hearing, Drummonds said it had been assured by its security provider, Granite Elite Ltd, that Chalmers “has never worked at our venue as an unlicensed doorman”.
The spokesman added: “We take our responsibility of all licensing conditions to ensure a safe environment for our customers and staff including having licensed door staff.”
Mandy Southall, operations director at Punch, which runs No 7, said: “Ensuring our pubs operate safely and in line with the licensing regulations is of the utmost importance to Punch.
“We have spoken with the publican responsible for the day-to-day running of The Office, Crown Street, who has confirmed that the security team are employed and provided by a third-party agency, who are responsible for ensuring all required licencing is in date and valid.
“Our publican will continue to work with the relevant authorities regarding this matter.
“However, we are confident that the pub is continuing to operate safely and within the licensing regulations.”
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