chazwicke
09-08-2006, 10:18 AM
Thieves Steal Contaminated Beer - Sept 7th by Sam Webb
LANDLORD Ray Evitts today issued a warning after 40 barrels of contaminated beer were stolen from his pub garden in Coventry.Thieves loaded up the beer into a van after pulling up at the Ray's pub, the Royal Oak in Earlsdon Street, Earlsdon, yesterday morning. But what they didn't know was that the ale had been contaminated with filthy water when the cellar flooded in the violent rainstorms last month. Ray, who has run the pub for 14 years, admits he couldn't help but laugh when he heard what had been stolen.
"It's worse than fiction. It's like something that would happen to Del Boy. I did laugh but the sad part is it's highly dangerous because it has all been submerged in funny water."
The barrels were stacked in the back garden waiting to be thrown away when the thieves struck. They had to haul the barrels over a six foot wall and load them into a waiting van. Ray's wife Debbie, who helps him run the pub, said: "We wouldn't be stupid enough to leave it all out here if there wasn't something wrong with it.
"To be honest they have taken a bit of a problem off our hands because we would have had to get rid of it anyway."
The pub, which is currently closed for repairs, suffered thousands of pounds of damage when the floods struck on August 18. Other businesses throughout the city have also been left counting the cost. Police have issued a warning to the thieves telling them not to drink the beer and have informed staff at University Hospital in Walsgrave to be prepared for poisoning cases.
LANDLORD Ray Evitts today issued a warning after 40 barrels of contaminated beer were stolen from his pub garden in Coventry.Thieves loaded up the beer into a van after pulling up at the Ray's pub, the Royal Oak in Earlsdon Street, Earlsdon, yesterday morning. But what they didn't know was that the ale had been contaminated with filthy water when the cellar flooded in the violent rainstorms last month. Ray, who has run the pub for 14 years, admits he couldn't help but laugh when he heard what had been stolen.
"It's worse than fiction. It's like something that would happen to Del Boy. I did laugh but the sad part is it's highly dangerous because it has all been submerged in funny water."
The barrels were stacked in the back garden waiting to be thrown away when the thieves struck. They had to haul the barrels over a six foot wall and load them into a waiting van. Ray's wife Debbie, who helps him run the pub, said: "We wouldn't be stupid enough to leave it all out here if there wasn't something wrong with it.
"To be honest they have taken a bit of a problem off our hands because we would have had to get rid of it anyway."
The pub, which is currently closed for repairs, suffered thousands of pounds of damage when the floods struck on August 18. Other businesses throughout the city have also been left counting the cost. Police have issued a warning to the thieves telling them not to drink the beer and have informed staff at University Hospital in Walsgrave to be prepared for poisoning cases.