Licence granted for Ship Tavern

A Fife publican has been granted a licence, despite failing to disclose a conviction for fraud.

David Shields, who has taken over as licensee of the Ship Tavern in Anstruther, said the conviction dating back to July 2013 had caused him embarrassment and he had not benefited financially from it.

Fife licensing board was informed that Mr Shields was fined £1,125 for providing a false invoice for events he organised as part of an art, food and music festival in Cellardyke.

He was a community council member at the time.

Mr Shields told the licensing board: “Obviously it was quite embarrassing for me. I didn’t benefit from it. I’ve been in the licensed trade for over 30 years and I’d like to continue it as a livelihood.”

Appearing on behalf of Mr Shields, George Harper said his client had not been advised to disclose the conviction to the board by his solicitor.

“What the board should also take into account is there are no adverse comments from the chief constable beyond reporting that disclosure wasn’t made,” said Mr Harper.

“That offence is now over four years old and in the next six months that offence will be spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.”

He added that the sheriff had imposed a financial penalty.

“It does reflect that the courts themselves consider that this was at the lower end of the scale,” he said.