Fears that an alleged protection racket is again targeting pubs in Braintree were raised again after a town centre pub was singled out.
Phil Hughes, licensee of The Globe, in Market Place, said he was approached by a man drinking in his pub last Thursday who claimed he owed him money.
Mr Hughes, who has been running the pub since March, refused to hand over any money and the man then left.
The following night there was an incident in the pub involving customers, who started trouble after they were refused drinks because it was past closing time.
When similar incidents occurred earlier this year, Braintree police sent a letter to every pub warning them about what the LVA call "demanding money with menaces".
Police believed the incident was "isolated" after an investigation.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "It is a recurrence of similar matters that were reported a few months ago. However, we need people in the licensing industry to provide us with information so that we can take action."
Published Wednesday, October 6, 2004
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