NORTH Ayrshire’s licensing board will have to delay their decision on whether to revoke the personal licence of a convicted criminal.

The board had been due to consider a request from police to review Joseph Henry Fitzsimmons’ personal licence at a hearing earlier this month.

But at Mr Fitzsimmons’ request, it was agreed to defer the hearing until the board’s next meeting on October 31.

The case was brought to the board after Police Scotland’s Chief Constable exercised his right to report to the board when he considers that any personal licence holder has acted in a manner which is inconsistent with any licensing objectives.

In Mr Fitzsimmons’ case, this relates to information relating to a criminal conviction which was not supplied to the board by the licence holder within one month of conviction.

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A personal licence holder’s failure to report a conviction without reasonable excuse is an offence under Section 82(5).

Licensing board papers state that on January 18, 2021, the licence holder was convicted of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment, and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

These circumstances were reported to the licensing board via letter on June 30 of this year. This letter was distributed to members on September 5.

Meeting documents state: “The Chief Constable considers that the licence-holder has acted in a manner inconsistent with the licensing objective of preventing crime and disorder, and therefore requests the board to revoke the licence.”

Mr Fitzsimmons asked that the September 5 meeting be adjourned so he could come back with legal representation.