Morecambe man not guilty of Carleton sign theft
A club night promoter from Morecambe has been found not guilty of stealing an iconic venue sign.
Robert Denwood auctioned The Carleton sign for charity after promoting a rave night at the seafront club.
But nightclub owner Ian Bond claimed he had taken the sign without permission.
After a trial at Lancaster Magistrates Court on Friday, Mr Denwood, 38, was cleared of theft.
The chief magistrate said “we believe you to have been given permission to take the sign and that you firmly believed to have had that permission”.
Mr Denwood, of Alexandra Road, held the auction through social media after the ‘Final Farewell’ night at the club in January 2016. He raised £322 for St John’s Hospice.
The magistrate said: “Why would you put the sign up for auction on Facebook if you didn’t believe it was yours?”
After the trial, Mr Denwood said: “I’m over the moon to be found not guilty.
“This has caused me a lot of stress and I’m looking forward to running events in Morecambe again now.”
More to follow.