A man accused of denying Police officers entry to a noisy party at a controversial club has been cleared after a trial.

Deon Eugene Bassett, 28, was alleged by the Crown to have refused to let the officers into Somerset Bridge Recreation Club ? popularly known as White Hill Field ? in the early hours of February 4 last year.

Police officers told Magistrate Juan Wolffe during a trial earlier this month that they attended the incident at about 3.50 a.m. They claimed people stood and laughed after turning down their requests to open the door, so they had to force their way in. Mr. Bassett, vice president of the club, said he had been at the other end of the venue selling drinks tickets.

Delivering his verdict last week, Mr. Wolffe described the evidence produced by the Crown against Mr. Bassett as ?weak and tenuous? and said there was nothing to suggest it was he who denied the Police entry. Mr. Wolffe also said he accepted evidence from the defendant ? who represented himself during the trial ? that he had been trying to resolve matters with the Police.

Somerset Bridge Recreation Club held a liquor licence at the time of the incident. However, it hit the headlines late last year when Police objected to the renewal of this licence after a slew of criminal incidents and complaints about antisocial behaviour at the venue. The club subsequently withdrew the application before the Licensing Authority could decide.

P.c. Scott Devine, Bermuda Police Service liquor licensing officer, confirmed last week that the club does not currently possess a licence and is not operating as a licensed premises.