Landlord sold pints to boy, 16, before fatal crash

16 hours ago

Paul BurnellNorth West

Pub landlord Anthony Wiazcek had known Hector Eccles since he was a baby

Family photo A boy is sitting in a field next to a sheep. He wears a black beanie hat as well as a black, grey and white lumber jacket with blue jeans and black wellies. — Pub landlord Anthony Wiazcek had known Hector Eccles since he was a baby

A pub landlord who served five pints of lager to a boy he knew was only 16 before the teenager died in a quad bike crash has been convicted of selling alcohol to underage drinkers.

Anthony Wiazcek, who had known Hector Eccles and his family since he was a baby, served the beer to the teenager at the Roggerham Gate Inn in Worsthorne, Lancashire, shortly before his death on 30 March 2024.

Hector's mother Wendy Eccles said her "heart had been smashed and would never be repaired" as a result of losing her son.

Wiazcek, 65, was fined £660 and had his premises licence suspended for three months by Burnley magistrates after a two-day trial.

Hector had been drinking in the Ram Inn in Cliviger before heading to the Roggerham Gate, the court heard.

He later set off on his Polaris quad bike and crashed. A friend, who was his passenger, was injured.

Both pubs had their licences reviewed after Hector's death. The Ram Inn was allowed to keep its licence after hearing it had changed its premises supervisor.

But the Roggerham Gate had its licence revoked by Burnley Council's licensing committee.

Hector had been drinking in the Roggerham Gate Inn before his fatal crash

Google Exterior of the Roggeram Gate pub in the Briercliffe area of Burnley. It is a stone-built, double-fronted pub, with a hardstanding area in front. — Hector had been drinking in the Roggerham Gate Inn before his fatal crash

A hearing in August 2024 heard Wiaczek had stated he believed Hector was 18, but the committee was told by the police and Hector's family that Wiaczek had known his age because he knew him and his family personally.

In a statement after the magistrates' court hearing, Mrs Eccles said: "The day Hector died, I died with him. We don't live our lives now - we just exist.

"I am just a hollow shell, wanting my old life back every minute of every day.

"When I go into Hector's bedroom, I feel every bit of grief flowing through my body. I feel panic like you can't imagine, knowing that he's not coming home.

"Every morning I wake up and feel like I have been hit by a train. I cry numerous times a day every day since that terrible morning when our lives were destroyed forever."

Wiaczek was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £265 and £650 costs.

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