The landlord of the local pub charged about 80 fans £250 each for a private plane to take them to Plymouth this week. He's gone bust and they've all lost their money unless he can pay it back. This is his apology on the millers board The fraudsters name is Lee Mills, until this morning licencee of the Hare & Hounds pub in Rotherham. He posted this confession on the Millersmad messageboard today; It is with the deepest regret that I have to announce the Plymouth plane trip is cancelled and that The Hare and Hounds ceased trading under my ownership as of this morning. The explaination for this will not bring you much comfort and for this I apologise in advance. I MADE A HUGE MISTAKE AND FOR WEEKS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO RECTIFY IT. In February, I agreed a deal with Marstons to take on The Town Gate pub. I set the grand opening date of Easter weekend. During the same period, The Hare and Hounds was going through a tough trading period due to the dip in trade after Xmas and then the bad spell of weather. Stupidly and wrongly, I used some of the plane money to bolster The Hare and Hounds knowing the money could be put back from the opening of The Town Gate. Unfortunately, due to hurdles put in place by Marstons, the opening date for The Town Gate was put back. A short time later, the deal collapsed because Marstons received an offer for the purchase of the building. I have then explored every avenue available to me to remidy the stuation and replace the money but with no success. I AM EMBARRASSED, ASHAMED AND HUMILIATED BY WHAT I HAVE DONE AND TODAY HAVE SPOKEN TO HELEN, THE POLICE LICENSING OFFICER TO REPORT WHAT I HAVE DONE. I WILL make every effort to compensate everyone that booked a ticket on this flight to ensure that no one is out of pocket. Knowing that I have lost the trust you all had in me, my words may not now count for anything but I would like to say, IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION TO DO THIS. I made a mistake because it was an easy option at the time to juggle the money and I felt certain I could right the wrong as soon as the Town Gate opened. I relied to heavily on this happening,not concidering the possibility that the opening would fall through. I CANNOT APOLOGISE ENOUGH. I will email each of the lead booking names to arrange for you to be compensated as quickly as I can. Lee.
I have to say I feel sorry for those out of pocket, I am on hard times and know what £250 quid would feel like in my pocket. But really? They trusted this muppet? Are we sure it is not Evans?
This was mentioned on 5 Live news this evening - apparently he's now done a runner. Also, it seems as though Plymouth City airport closed in December 2011, so I'm not sure where he was planning to have the plane land....
