PUBWATCH members have sent a strong message to anyone who abuses staff following the conviction of a woman who repeatedly punched a pub landlord.

Rachel Bainbridge of Oakley Green, West Auckland, was given an exclusion order banning her from going to the Crown Inn, in Crook, for six months, after she was convicted of common assault on the landlord last month.

She also admitted racially or religiously harassing a police officer after using racist language while in custody and obstructing a police officer, after a drunken night on January 13.

However, after the latest meeting of the Crook and Willington Pubwatch, members agreed to ban the 34-year-old for a year.

The Crown Inn's landlord, Valentine Bargewell, said the group had spoken to the police as part of the meeting and agreed to extend the ban.

He said: "We want to send out a strong message that even though the court can bar someone for six months, Pubwatch can also bar people with a review."

A review on Bainbridge's ban will take place in February 2020.