A FORMER publican has been fined £250 after being found guilty of being drunk in charge of a bar.

Frank McFarlane, 64, had denied, as a responsible person, being drunk at Frankie’s Bar in Bourtree Place, Hawick, on August 26.

A police officer told Jedburgh Sheriff Court that he was on foot patrol in the area when he spotted a group of males leaving at the bar at 1.45am.

He spoke to McFarlane and told the court, “his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet”.

The officer left the premises and observed McFarlane switching on the pub alarm and disappearing up a nearby close.

The trial heard that when he was later interviewed by the police McFarlane told them: “I was not working. There was no drink on show. I was helping to clear up.” Defence lawyer Rory Bannerman also pointed out that McFarlane was not the licence holder. He added no sobriety test such as a breathalyser was taken at the time.

But procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said that they did not require to be the licence holder to be a responsible person.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre found McFarlane, of North Bridge Street, Hawick, guilty of the charge and imposed a £250 fine.