A licensing panel has granted an alcohol licence to a man who had previously been convicted of cannabis-related offences, after deciding he has turned his life around.

West Yorkshire Police objected to Joseph Roy Pickles’s application, referring to his 2024 conviction for drug-related crimes.

The force contended that the offence made him unfit for the duties associated with holding an alcohol licence.

After hearing from Mr Pickles himself, Bradford Council’s District Licensing Panel decided he posed no further risk of committing offences and approved the licence.

Mr Pickles was convicted of producing and possessing cannabis in 2024.

He received a suspended prison sentence, which has now ended.

At Tuesday’s hearing, his solicitor Chris Rees-Gay explained that the convictions had now passed their rehabilitation period and should no longer be considered relevant.

She said the convictions are spent and therefore should not be taken into account when considering this application, adding that the police have provided no additional evidence beyond referring to a conviction that can no longer be considered.

Regarding the drug offences, she told the panel that Mr Pickles owned an extensive property and struggled financially during periods without work.

She explained that foreclosure was a genuine threat and that this circumstances led to the conviction, though he has since reformed.

She told the committee the property has been sold and Mr Pickles now holds steady employment at the Stansfield Arms in Apperley Bridge, with his employer’s full backing.

PC Tony Brown from West Yorkshire Police pointed out that even when a conviction becomes spent, police retain the right to object to a licence applicant if they consider past offences make them unsuitable.

He said holding a personal licence is a position requiring trust and responsibility.

He questioned whether someone with a drug production conviction was suitable for such a position of trust.

However, he accepted that Mr Pickles had taken accountability for his actions.

Mr Pickles told the committee he was in a challenging situation at the time and had mortgage obligations to meet, explaining that he had not grown cannabis for luxurious holidays but rather to keep financially afloat.

He said he had entirely transformed his life and was now moving forward, adding that obtaining a personal licence would hold significant meaning for him.

When asked about his reasons for seeking the licence, he revealed his long-term goal of managing a country pub in Northumbria.

Committee chair Councillor Sabiya Khan, representing the Labour party for Wibsey, stated that the panel was satisfied the applicant no longer posed a risk of reoffending and confirmed the personal licence would be granted.