A pub so violent and badly managed police fear a fatality could occur has had its license revoked.

A series of four serious assaults, all after drinking hours and one including a bat, in less than a year, has seen police call for the immediate closure of The Pitlake Arms on New Waddon Road.

Reports from police said pub landlord Terence Jelley lied when questioned about an assault at the pub on New Year’s Day after a man suffered a broken cheekbone, and also after the incident with a bat in November last year.

At a licensing sub-committee meeting on Friday February 3 Matt Butt, representing Croydon Police said: “Over 12 months four people seriously assaulted have been allowed to leave and most seriously on no occasion has the police or ambulance been called.

“There is a significant risk someone in that condition could come to further harm and we fear a fatality could occur.”

He described how police picked up the victims walking the streets and on visiting the pub on both occasions found blood splattered across the walls.

He said inspections found traces of cocaine, and an arrest for possession of the drug had been made, the pub regularly held lock-ins, allowed smoking, and played loud music.

In defence Mr Jelley, who has run the pub for 16 years, and been a publican since 1984 admitted he struggled to control some of his clients The 68-year-old said: “I can’t control people. I’m just the licensee.

“If people are fighting I can’t stop them, at the same time I can’t give out names, I’m local, if I do I’m down there. We have the rules. I’m very sorry for what happened.”

He also claimed the two later assaults were from people who had only just come into the pub.

Mr Butt challenged this saying the suspects had been found in the pub when police arrived.

Croydon Licensing Sub-Committee revoked the pub’s license and ordered conditions to keep it closed remain in place during any appeal process.

Police Superintendent Rob Atkin said: "This decision shows that Croydon Police Licensing Unit remains committed to ensuring that licensed premises on the borough adhere to the terms of their licence and that we will take robust and positive action against any venues that do not show willing or comply with the terms of their licence.

"The Pitlake Arms has been the location for a number of serious violent incidents over the past year as well as lock-ins and drugs being used there.

"Despite numerous requests to improve the situation, the management has failed to do so, so we have taken this action to prevent further incidents of crime and antisocial behaviour in the area."