Welsh landlord who smashed up own pub won't face charges

A Welsh man who destroyed a pub after he was refused a drink has escaped charges – because he is the landlord.

Mark Swistun, 45, smashed up his seaside Royal Oak pub in Pencalwdd using a 28-tonne yellow earthmover in late July, The Telegraph reports.

He left the pub after being refused a drink, only to return to dish out the DIY demolition job in the early hours of the morning.

The rampage caused $84,000 worth of damage.

Mr Swistun invested more than $125,000 in the pub with a business partner only a year ago.

Pencalwdd police said they were powerless to prosecute Mr Swistun.

"At the end of the day the building belongs to him so he can do what he likes with it," a spokesman said.

"We would have needed someone to make an official complaint about the damage he caused."