Drug pair jailed as police submit club closure bid

Two men have been jailed for drug dealing at a Bath nightclub after being caught selling cocaine to undercover police officers.

Ben Shayegan, 20, of Quiet Street, and Louie Mulholland, 19, of Linley Close, Twerton, were arrested after a two- month sting operation organised by senior detectives trying to crack down on criminal activity at the Blue Rooms.

It comes as police prepare their bid to close down the nightclub, with the head of Bath police accusing the venue of a "gross failure" to maintain law and order.

Shayegan, whose father Kambiz is a director of the George Street nightclub, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to two counts of dealing cocaine, one of possession of cocaine with intent to supply and one of criminal damage.

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Mulholland was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail after admitting six counts of supplying cocaine.

Police officers have compiled a dossier of evidence about crimes committed in and around the club over the past 12 months and will be asking Bath and North East Somerset Council's licensing committee to agree a temporary closure at a meeting tomorrow.

Chief Superintendent Geoff Spicer said in a submission to the council: "It appears there has been a gross failure to promote the licensing objectives in respect of the prevention of crime and disorder.

"Since February 2012 there have been numerous incidents of disorder, including serious assaults, public disorder, drunkenness, and anti-social behaviour associated with the premises. These incidents have had a major impact on both victims, visitors to the city and residents living nearby. Police evidence suggests that there is a disproportionate amount of serious violence positively linked to the premises."

Mr Shayegan snr said he was confident that the incident involving his son was an isolated one.

He said: "Since this problem was made known to us three weeks ago we have stepped up our security and have been working with the police and have had no further problems. Having been a licensee in a number of premises since 1981 I have always been utterly against drugs and welcome the police crackdown.

"In fact, in my opinion, policemen on the beat with sniffer dogs would be an excellent deterrent to the drug carriers."