Edinburgh gym manager 'bit' Glasgow casino security guard while drunk

An Edinburgh gym has been given a written warning after its day-to-day manager bit a casino security guard on the shin while drunk.

Councillors at Monday’s licensing meeting heard Steven Blackburn, manager of the Gym Group location on Glasgow Road, failed to report a conviction about the matter during a public entertainment licence renewal.

Police said that, early on a Saturday morning in June 2024, he was found intoxicated and slumped over a bar counter in Glasgow’s Grosvenor casino.

A security guard moved him on due to his ‘over-intoxication’ – but police sergeant Grant Robertson said Blackburn made several attempts to go back inside.

Around 5.30am that morning, Blackburn headbutted a security guard while trying to go back in, causing no injury – after which another shoved him away to create some space.

Concerned about further assaults, the two guards proceeded to restrain the man on the ground while awaiting police attendance, with one guard kneeling next to him.

Blackburn then proceeded to bite the guard kneeling by him on the ‘shin and calf area’, after which the guards let him loose, later providing information to the police.

On July 17 of last year, Blackburn was found guilty at the Glasgow Justice of the Peace court of assault and assault to injury, being fined £400 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

A representative of the company said Blackburn had tried to check whether he needed to declare the conviction using an online calculator.

He added: “As we now understand, the calculator was not accurate and indicated that Stephen’s conviction was spent, and he did not need to disclose it.

“This was not an attempt to conceal the conviction, it was a genuine error on Steven’s part.”

He further said the company’s internal health and safety officer had deemed that Blackburn was not a risk to other staff and customers, and could keep running the branch.

Blackburn has worked for the firm for the last 14 years and has managed the gym for 20 months.

The representative continued: “We’re comfortable that he remains up at the site, assuming the conditions of our public entertainment licence allow.

He added Blackburn’s conviction will be spent in July this year, and the company could move him to a different branch if needed.

Conservative councillor and committee convener Joanna Mowat said: “We have a situation where we have an item that wasn’t declared.

“The explanation being that the checker that was used proves some sort of intent that it should be declared, but it gave inaccurate information.

“We have a fairly serious incident. And the conviction will only remain visible to July this year. Can I take any views on this matter?”

She noted that the employer putting the situation through its own health and safety policies, and was still happy to have him take on the day-to-day role of running the gym.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell responded: “In terms of our licensing objectives and public safety, I don’t see Mr Blackburn as a threat to public safety.

“Therefore, I would agree with granting this licence.”

Fellow Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross agreed with Cllr Caldwell, and suggested that a written warning be added to the gym’s public entertainment licence renewal.

Councillors also discussed adding a set of licence conditions to the gym at time of renewal, recommended by the council’s public safety team.

These included requirements for improved safety and security measures for periods of time where the 24-hour gym was unstaffed.

However, after listening to the opinions of officers, councillors elected not to add the requirements to the licence.

Councillors agreed to the renewal of the gym’s public entertainment licence with a written warning attached.