Barking mad! Judge is quizzed by police over a bizarre poster campaign against 'fat and pompous' bar owner for banning his dog from the pub

• Judge Simon Newell has been quizzed by police over harassment claims
• He is alleged to have launched a bizarre revenge campaign on a bar owner
• The judge was told his dog had to remain outside of the bar in Lancashire
• He then left posters on his car outside the premises - calling the owner 'fat'

A judge was quizzed by police over claims he harassed a bar owner by calling him 'fat' and 'pompous' - after he banned his dog from entering a swanky pub. 

Simon Newell, 65, tried to take his pet Marley into Barrique wine bar in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, but was told by staff his dog was only welcome in the beer garden. 

He is then alleged to have launched a bizarre revenge campaign on the owner Michael Robinson, 46.

The judge started placing a number of posters on his windscreen demanding 'woof justice' after he parked his blue Golf GTI just yards from the swanky bar. 

One of his homemade posters even had a picture of his pet with a gag on its mouth. 

Another poster claimed the bar had opened without the correct planning permission before he added another which personally attacked Mr Robinson. 

It is also claimed Judge Newell moved the upmarket wine bar's wheelie bins on a daily basis and it is said this was captured on CCTV and the police were alerted. 

But following the police involvement, the judge retreated and wrote a final note before placing it on his windscreen. 

He apologised 'unreservedly' and wanted to wish Mr Robinson 'and his business Barrique all the very best and a dog-free future.' He then signed it, 'Marley'. 

Beside the picture of his pooch, it read: 'As a result of the police being sent to my house and a letter warning me of the dire personal consequences, I have taken down my last announcement. I will bark no more.

'I apologise unreservedly to the blameless and saintly Mr Robinson and wish him and his business Barrique all the very best and a dog free future.

'Yours, a very chastened, Marley.'

The spat began after Judge Newell took his four-legged companion to the bar, close to his seaside home in Lytham, Lancs, on a busy Saturday night in May.

Staff told him pets were not allowed inside and offered him a table on the patio - but it is alleged the judge stormed off. 

Judge Newell branded Mr Robinson, who owns a string of bars and restaurants in the town, 'fat' and 'pompous' - adding the businessman would not know 'flash from class.'

One resident said: 'The second sign was an attack on Michael.

'It called him fat and pompous and said that he had no class because he was from Blackpool but Newell was a pedigree because he was from Lytham.

'Newell was also moving the bins on a daily basis.

'The owners called the police saying they were being harassed.'

The resident added: 'All the owners have a dog but it is just company policy.

'It is not as though they have just barred Newell's dog and let others in.'

'He refused to sit outside with his dog, but why would you want to take your dog into a bar on a Saturday night when it's full on people?

'And I don't know what he was thinking when he started to say everyone from Blackpool had no class, particularly with his past record being so bad.'

In 2010, Judge Newell faced calls to quit after he freed on bail a paramedic accused of raping his ex-partner - only for him to later stab her to death.

Jonathan Vass was jailed for life for murdering Jane Clough - the mum of his daughter - at a hospital where she worked in Blackpool.

Judge Newell faced a backlash after dismissing the rape and assault charges as 'insignificant'.

Charles Furnell, one of the business partners, said: 'Our policy is not to let dogs into the premises because we serve food.

'We have outdoor space for dogs.

'We have operated in Lytham for eight years and always had the same policy.'

He admitted there had been a delay in obtaining the correct planning permission but this had been resolved.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: 'Both parties were spoken to by officers from the local neighbourhood team and it was established that no criminal offences have taken place.

'There is no further police involvement in the matter.'

Judge Newell today declined to comment.