AN ice cream vendor has accused Darlington Borough Council of double standards after refusing one of his staff a licence.

Ian Pritchard, of Ian's Ices, in Darlington, had wanted his friend Neil Beaumont to join him in business to drive one of his vans.

But Mr Beaumont's application for a licence was refused because he has previously served a prison sentence for theft.

Mr Beaumont left prison two years ago but by law his conviction is not considered spent for a further three years.

However, Mr Pritchard has also been in prison, serving time for a serious offence but on his release he was allowed a vendor's licence.

He said: "I have a van in the garage that can't be used because they will not give Neil a licence.

"It is stupid. This man wants to work but can't, even though he has been out of prison for two years.

"When I applied for a licence after being in prison I was allowed to sell ice creams, but Neil, who was in for a less serious offence, is not allowed to get on with his life."

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said that the rules governing vendor licences had changed since Mr Pritchard was granted his licence and now people with unspent convictions would be refused.

He said: "When a conviction is spent then we would consider each application for a licence on its merits."