A Hunter Valley publican is facing a slew of charges relating to supply and possession of cocaine at his Scone pub.
37-year-old John William Allen, aka Jack Allen, fronted Muswellbrook Local Court last week to face multiple charges, the most serious being supply cocaine on an ongoing basis.
Hunter Valley detectives, part of Strike Force Banks, allege he sold the drug three times during December 2021. He was arrested by police in May this year and found to be in possession.
A resident of Hamilton, Allen is the former licensee of the Thoroughbred Hotel in Scone. He reportedly pleaded guilty to allowing the sale and possession of cocaine at the pub between December and his arrest, and to possessing cocaine.
However, he entered pleas of not guilty to charges relating to drug supply.
Since being granted bail after his arrest, he has been unable to enter or be within 50 metres of the pub. While he is no longer the licensee, he is still a part-owner and listed as a manager.
Following a two-year renovation, the popular Hotel transformed to include a bakery, café, and indoor dining area, taking the AHA Award in 2018 for Best New or Redeveloped Country Hotel.
Appearing before the Court, Allen’s counsel asked magistrate Roger Prowse to amend the bail conditions to allow his client to return to work at the Hotel. Defence cited the shortage of workers and need to have him on deck as a manager.
Police presented to magistrate Prowse details of an unrelated series of assault charges stemming from 7 August 2021, to which Allen is also pleading not guilty. This matter is due to return to Court late October.
Prowse considered the submissions and rejected Allen’s application to amend his bail and return to the Thoroughbred Hotel, although he did remove the stipulation that he must not be within 50 metres of the property.
The matter is scheduled to return to Court 12 October.
