The Crooked House: Woman hit by car and two attacked at site of Britain’s most infamous boozer
What's happening? Police are investigating after a woman was run over by a car and two other people were assaulted at the site of the demolished Crooked House pub.
Officers were called to reports of a disorder in Himley, near Dudley, West Midlands, at around 8.30pm on Saturday evening.
Witnesses said a "group of idiots" clashed with supporters of Britain's wonkiest pub who have been trying to protect the site and stop people from stealing bricks.
The incident comes after three people were arrested when the pub was burned down and then demolished without permission. The blaze is being treated as a suspected arson attack.
Watch: Fire at wonky Crooked House pub being treated as arson
Police said a man and a woman were assaulted by several people before the pair then tried to get into a car and drive away.
The man and woman were then obstructed before the car was involved in a collision with a female pedestrian, who was not seriously injured, authorities added.
The vehicle drove away from the area but the man and woman later contacted police about what happened.
The woman was then taken to hospital for assessment but has since been discharged.
Here is a timeline of the Crooked House pub fire:
Saturday, 5 August
A fire gutted the 18th century pub just days after it was sold by pub operating firm Marston’s to private buyer ATE Farms Limited.
Thirty firefighters were called to the pub at 10.45pm. The blaze was extinguished and no one was injured.
Police and fire investigators subsequently began work to establish the cause of the fire.
Monday, 7 August
A mechanical digger was used to reduce the remaining structure to rubble. It later emerged this was done without permission (see 8 August on the timeline below).
Tuesday, 8 August
South Staffordshire Council said it was investigating potential breaches of the law after the total demolition of the pub.
The council said its officers had carried out a site visit to The Crooked House on Monday but had not agreed to "the demolition of the whole structure" or deemed it necessary.
Meanwhile, Staffordshire Police was forced to address its handling of the investigation after its cordon around the pub was taken down.
Chief Inspector Chris Cotton said: "A cordon was in place temporarily whilst we carried out inquiries at the scene, but, due to the unsafe structure of the building, officers were pulled back and the scene was stood down."
West Midlands mayor Andy Street called for the pub to be rebuilt "brick by brick", and more than 100 people gathered near the rubble to lament its destruction.
Wednesday, 9 August
Detectives said they were treating the fire as arson.
Staffordshire Police said in a statement: "This fire has shocked and upset so many given the, albeit not listed, cultural importance and heritage of the building. This is not lost on us and a robust investigation using all available information and forensic opportunities is being carried out.
"We have spoken to, and continue to engage, with the owners. However, speculation is extremely unhelpful and could hinder our investigation."
Marco Longhi, MP for Dudley North, said he would campaign to close a "potential loophole" that allowed the pub to be demolished.
Friday, 11 August
West Midlands mayor Street urged local residents and former patrons of the Crooked House pub to avoid taking items from its ruins to maximise the chances of it being rebuilt.
Local residents, former patrons and politicians have visited the site, with several reports of items including bricks and sign lettering being taken as mementoes.
West Midlands mayor reacts to Crooked House arson link (Birmingham World)
Monday, 14 August
There was renewed hope that the Crooked House could be rebuilt after Heritage England said it was "considering all possible avenues" after receiving dozens of applications for the pub.
Thursday, 24 August
Two men were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
A 66-year-old man, from Dudley, and a 33-year-old man, from Milton Keynes, remain in custody and are being questioned by officers while the investigation continues.
South Staffordshire Council said it would closely monitor work at the Crooked House pub after securing an agreement that bricks and foundations will be kept at the site.
It comes after campaigners took direct action, including a sit-down protest, after heavy machinery and staff moved on to the site, amid claims that checks for the presence of asbestos were taking place.
Staffordshire Police renew appeal for Crooked House fire witnesses as two men are arrested (Birmingham World)
Saturday, 9 September
A woman was run over by a car and two other people assaulted when violence broke out at the site of the demolished Crooked House pub.
Police said a man and a woman were assaulted by several people before the pair then tried to get into a car and drive away.
The man and woman were then obstructed before the car was involved in a collision with a female pedestrian, who was not seriously injured.
The woman was then taken to hospital for assessment but has since been discharged.
