The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Pub gives vandals a chance to make good over damage
Men who launched a beer keg through the window of a Perth city centre pub, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage, have been asked to come clean.
Bosses at the Twa Tams bar said they were “heartbroken” to discover the mess left behind after Saturday night’s attack.
The five young men involved were all captured on CCTV.
But co-owner Sandy Stirton is now giving them an opportunity to turn themselves in and help pay for repairs, and hopefully avoid a conviction.
The Scott Street establishment, which earlier this year launched a crowdfunder appeal to help it survive the pandemic, was hit just before 8.20pm.
The group entered the grounds of the pub through a front gate and tried to help themselves to kegs.
When they discovered the barrels were empty, one of the men hurled one through the front door, shattering an ornate stained-glass window.
The group took to their heels, but one man came back and threw another keg at a beer garden window.
Twa Tams has now made a public appeal for the men to come forward and discuss how they can pay for the damage.
If there is no response from all members of the group within three days, proprietors say they will hand over CCTV footage to police, as well as the kegs which are covered in fingerprints.
“We are absolutely devastated,” Mr Stirton said.
The pub had closed its doors in November for a refurbishment. Work has been carried out by Mr Stirton and other staff throughout lockdown.
But some work at the front of the establishment will now have to be redone.
“We recently upgraded our CCTV system so we have high-definition shots of everyone involved. It’s very easy to identify them,” Mr Stirton said.
“We want to sort this out in an amicable way. We are waiting for them all to get in touch and discuss how we can sort this out. I understand that sometimes young lads get drunk and do silly things.
“Everyone has had a tough time of it because of the pandemic, and we know that people will be looking for some kind of release but this is unacceptable.
“We do understand this isn’t something they would normally do in their day-today lives though, so we are willing to speak to them.”
He said the incident has been reported to police.
“If we aren’t contacted by those responsible we will be proceeding with legal action,” he said.
“But if they do come forward and sort out the situation themselves, we won’t be looking to follow any legal recourse.
“We now have to get our stained glass window replaced, and I don’t know if we’re going to be able to afford to do that,” he said.
“We are very hopeful we will be back open soon.”
A police spokesman confirmed inquiries are ongoing.