LANDLORDS in York were warned today they could lose their licences if drunken customers are served in their pubs.

The city's licensing manager John Lacy, issued the warning after a 19-year-old was sentenced for smashing a pub window at Copmanthorpe.

Shane Ronald Adams, of Moor Lane, Copmanthorpe, was ordered to do a community order with 60 hours' unpaid work after pleading guilty to £391.28 criminal damage at the Fox And Hounds.

District judge Martin Walker said at York Magistrates Court: "If he was drunk in a public house, that tends to suggest he was served alcohol when he was drunk. That is an offence.

"I would certainly like the police to bear that in mind if an offence is committed in a public house. I think it is important to look whether a person is served whilst in drink."

Serving drunken people in a pub is a crime.

Mr Lacy said police were taking steps to check on sales to drunks, and the vast majority of York's pubs took extensive steps to prevent it happening, including having door staff and installing expensive equipment.

He said City of York Council and police could review a landlord's licence at any time if he was not doing his job properly. Such a review could lead to the council imposing restrictions on the licence, including the banning of alcohol sales for a period or removing the licence altogether.

Adams' solicitor, Colin Byrne, admitted his client had had a drink in the pub, though he had drunk most of his alcohol before arriving.Prosecutor Emma Pearce said Adams had an argument with other pubgoers on August 18 in the pub and smashed a window.

The district judge said he would not make a compensation order as Adams had no money, but the pub could sue him through the county court.