A PUB manager told police "bare-faced lies" about her criminal record when she applied for a licence, Hyndburn licensing magistrates were told.

But Sharon Morris was granted a protection order for Millers in Blackburn Road, Accrington, despite failing to tell licensing officers of her previous convictions for dishonesty, deception and theft. Licensing officer Sgt Brian Hopwood accused Morris of lying to him when he interviewed her about her record.

Miss Morris told the court she had been forced into committing crime by her violent former partner. Sgt Hopwood said: "She was asked to fill out a form which asked if she had ever been convicted of any offences."

He said he had not indicated her previous crimes on the form and said that when he had interviewed her in relation to the application, she had lied.

Sgt Hopwood said: "When I spoke to her I made it plain that I needed to know about any previous convictions. In some of these interviews people tell straightforward, bare-faced lies. That is what has happened in this case.

"This is not the correct way to start out on taking stewardship of licensed premises. I object to this application." Sgt Hopwood said the crimes themselves were not enough to make him oppose the application, but it was Miss Morris' conduct when applying which made her unsuitable to hold a licence.

Miss Morris told the court her former lover had forced her to commit crimes including cashing other people's cheques.

She said: "I was in a violent relationship. I used to get beaten up quite violently for the slightest thing. It was easier to do things just to stop myself being hurt any more. The relationship is now effectively over."

Granting the order, magistrates told Miss Morris: "You completed the form inaccurately. But your last offence was eight years ago and we take a sympathetic view. It is extremely important that you take all these matters seriously."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.