A series of violent disturbances and children witnessing drunken behaviour has led to a Trowbridge pub being closed for three months and the landlord forced out.

Glyn York, 62, was removed as the designated premises supervisor at the Malt House pub in Roundstone Street on Tuesday by Wiltshire Council’s western area licensing committee. Mr York did not attend the hearing.

The committee ordered the pub should be closed down until March 2010, and attached conditions to its premises licence insisting it must install an updated CCTV system, become an active member of Trowbridge Pubwatch and keep an incident book if it re-opens.

Wiltshire Police had compiled a damning report about the pub, run by Mr York, of Yerbury Street, which detailed 31 incidents there since January.

Wiltshire Police’s divisional licensing officer Jacqui Gallimore outlined these to the committee, chaired by Bill Moss.

Giving examples, she said a 14-year-old boy was assaulted after drinking in the pub on January 31; a man threatened people at the pub with a knife on February 15 and a fight broke out in the smoking area in June which became so violent police were forced to use Parva spray and leg restraints to quell the fracas.

In another incident a heavily drunken couple were found to be at the pub with their children, aged just two and 18 months old.

Welcoming the committee’s decision, Mrs Gallimore said it should “act as a reminder” to licensees of their responsibilities. Inspector Dave Cullop, of Trowbridge police, added that the decision was a “clear message” that poorly managed premises would be targeted with enforcement action.

Jenny York, Mr York’s wife, who was at the hearing with employee Linda Baxendale, said she was the only person now living and working at the premises.

*Mr York is facing criminal charges for assault, and has entered a not guilty plea at Chippenham Magistrates’ Court. He will reappear at the court in January.