Leeds nightclub granted reprieve despite history of drunken violence

West Yorkshire Police called for a review of the licence for Trinity in Wesley Square, Pudsey, after repeated incidents involving heavily drunk punters at the venue.

Among the problems linked to the club – formerly called Mode – were violent attacks, mass brawls and a report of a rape by a woman who was so drunk that she lost consciousness in an alleyway.

But Leeds City Council’s licensing sub-committee heard today that the venue had not had any problems since a new manager, Michael Thornton, took over in March.

West Yorkshire Police licensing officer Cat Sanderson told members: “From dealings with Mr Thornton I agree he should be given the opportunity to run the venue in a safe manner.”

A log of incidents submitted by police to the licensing sub-committee outlined about a dozen call-outs in just over a year, including a report of a rape outside the club in August last year.

According to the log, the woman had been drinking heavily in Trinity. The report said: “She woke the next morning in an alleyway bruised and sore believing that she had been sexually assaulted.”

A fight involving 10 people in October left a man with a serious head injury. Two weeks later a man suffered broken bones in another attack after trying to intervene in a fight.

Another customer had his jaw broken when he was punched in an incident in February. That was followed by a huge brawl during a boxing match at the club.

The report said: “Video footage ... showed a large scale disorder within the venue, where someone had even been picked up and thrown over the suspects’ head into the melee.”

Mr Thornton, who attended today’s hearing, told the sub-committee things had changed since he took charge.

“Since then I have changed the doorstaff, put more security measures in place and had meetings with staff about intoxication levels of customers,” he said.

The sub-committee agreed that the club could keep its licence if it met certain conditions, including extensive CCTV, a minimum number of doorstaff on duty and the use of a drugs safe to store confiscated substances.