Injured student admits being drunk

The 18-year-old was rushed to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital with head injuries and a punctured lung after being hit by the bus on Glossop Road, outside Bar One at Sheffield University students’ union, a fortnight ago. Her condition is now said to be “serious” but improving.

Police have now revealed, in a document calling for the review of Bar One’s licence, that the first-year student from Suffolk had a celebratory cup promoting the “Legendary Christmas Event” inside her handbag.

The police report adds: “The injured party is believed to have indicated via social media sites at midday on the day in question that ‘she has never been so drunk’.”

The collision took place immediately after the student left Bar One at 5.15pm on December 14. Various drinks offers had been running at the “Christmas Day” event since 10am that morning.

Superintendent Martin Hemingway, from South Yorkshire Police, has prepared a report which will go before a meeting of Sheffield Council’s licensing committee on Thursday, January 5.

Councillors have various options open to them at that meeting, such as revoking the bar’s licence, suspending it for a period of time or modifying its conditions.

Mr Hemingway’s report says: “Of particular concern, especially in view of the social media comments of the injured party, is the starting of discounted drinks as early as 10am, with a range of different drinks being discounted throughout the day.

“This appears to encourage early drinking and the mixing of drinks. In this instance, the circumstances appear to have led to a tragic road accident but, given previous incidents at the premises, the end of the university term and potentially heavy drinking by young people over the festive period, South Yorkshire Police believe that the circumstances give rise to a significant fear of serious crime and disorder.”

Mr Hemingway’s report also cites previous problems at Bar One, including one incident in which a bouncer was bitten during an attack by up to 10 men. The attacker and his friends were thrown out of the bar, but then returned and punched the bouncer in the face, breaking a tooth.

On February 11 this year, the police were also called to the students’ union after “approximately 20 students” began attacking door staff outside Bar One.