A registered sex offender who was spotted working in a child-friendly pub has had his contract of employment terminated and been barred from the premises.
Ian Mcdonald, who was jailed following a trial in 2010 for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy, was seen working in the Avon Brewery, on Castle Street, Salisbury.
Local resident Carl Hamp told Wiltshire 999s: “I found out about him working there, and I couldn’t believe it. I felt that I had to see it with my own eyes. I went there and witnessed him in there myself.”
When we approached Avon Brewery for comment, they denied that Mcdonald worked there.
The manager, who only gave his name as Ben, said: “This is untrue. He is in no way a member of staff here. Yes, he comes into the pub, but he is not a member of staff here.”
When asked whether he was banned from the Avon Brewery, the manager then replied: “Why would there be any reason to ban him?
“Do you not believe in the British justice system, that he’s served his time?”
A short time later, we received a further phone call from the pub. The spokesperson confirmed that on speaking to the owner of the establishment, they have chosen to ban Mcdonald immediately.
Wiltshire 999s has since seen a conversation on Facebook between manager Ben and a member of the public, where he confirms that Mcdonald was employed there, but has since been fired.
We contacted the Avon Brewery in light of of this further information, but they ignored our request for further comment.
On a social media post about Mcdonald, a number of people have said that they have been served by him in recent days and weeks.
He will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register until 2020.