Chloe Hubbard

A FORMER firefighter has won a £5,000 compensation payout after slipping on liquid in a pub toilet and badly injuring his right knee.

John Pledger, 59, who was the fire station commander at Torrington before he retired, was badly injured in the Barmy Arms in Twickenham, in 2009.

The incident happened after he had gone to watch the England vs Barbarians game on December 4, when he was enjoying a few post game drinks with his two sons.

The trio had ordered a drink at the bar and Mr Pledger said he wanted to use the pub's toilet before they walked back to their hotel. But he slipped on the toilet floor, badly twisting his knee and ankle.

He described being unable to stand, and having to drag himself up using a urinal to get away from the sodden floor.

Mr Pledger was helped back to the bar and a doctor who was also in the pub came to his aid.

But the pub landlord was less than helpful. He refused to call an ambulance for Mr Pledger, and ejected him, his sons and the doctor from the pub.

Mr Pledger said: "I twisted the ligaments in my knee and ankle and I could hardly stand up.

"The doctor was trying to get me an ambulance but for some reason the landlord didn't want that and wanted us all out of the pub."

Because he was so badly injured, he pursued the Barmy Arms for compensation, and Mike Clarke from Slee Blackwell Solicitors helped fight his case.

Mr Clarke successfully fought the case and eventually won at a hearing in Torquay last week.

Mr Clarke, who is an injury partner at Slee Blackwell in Bideford, said: "There were two unusual aspects to this claim. The first was the extraordinary behaviour of the landlord of the pub.

"The second was the refusal of the landlord and his insurers to accept that there had been any liquid at all on the floor, despite us showing them clear photographs of it, taken at the scene by a witness.

"Frustratingly, the insurers flatly refused to negotiate on this claim at all, which meant we had to take it to trial. About half way through the trial, the insurers finally agreed a fair settlement for Mr Pledger."