A FORMER boxer from Bradford who once fought Lennox Lewis was fined by magistrates after failing to cooperate with an investigation into unlicensed door staff in the city.

During the case, heard at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court last week, Stephen Garber told magistrates that he was now living on benefits, and would be unable to pay any large fine.

Garber, 62, of Leeds Road, Eccleshill, appeared at the court for sentencing on Thursday after being found guilty of failing to produce documents requested by the Security Industry Authority at a trial in August.

The case relates to the time when Garber was director of a company called Worldwide Securities Services Limited, and was brought to court by the SIA.

The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, and the licensing of door staff and bouncers lies within its remit.

In 2022 the SIA carried out an operation in Bradford city centre along with West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Council to crack down on unlicensed door staff.

A man was found to be working as security at the Ginger Goose on Bridge Street without a licence. That person has since been prosecuted and fined.

The discovery led to the SIA investigating Worldwide Securities Services Ltd, the Valley Road based company believed to have supplied the security worker to the venue and others in the Bradford area.

The SIA invited Garber, as director of the company, to an interview and requested information relating to the provision of security at the venue.

He failed to attend the interview or respond to the request for information – a crime under the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

Amreek Jandoo, representing the SIA in court, told magistrates that correspondence was sent to Garber by recorded delivery in August 2022, and Garber had signed to say he received it.

The SIA received no reply.

In early 2023, shortly before the case was due to first appear before the courts, the SIA received an email from the company saying they did not provide door supervision. It also claimed they had in fact replied to the request for information by email, but the SIA must have missed their reply.

The organisation’s software carried out a search and found no email had been received.

Mr Jandoo said at the trial in August it was found Garber’s claims could not be supported by any documentation.

He added: “The defendant deliberately ignored two requests for information that would have greatly assisted the investigation.

“His claim that he had responded to our requests shows a further attempt to deceive.”

Highlighting the amount of court time the case has taken up, Magistrates were told that Thursday’s sentencing was the eighth time the matter had been listed.

Representing himself, Garber maintained the business was not a security company, but rather a facilities management company.

He pointed out that another charge of supplying unlicensed guards had been dismissed.

He added: “This isn’t a crime, it is a civil matter.”

Magistrates replied to say that it was in fact a criminal matter.

Garber disagreed.

Explaining the lack of communication he said: “I’m not computer literate, I’ve never used a computer in my life. A girl in the office said she’d sent the information.

“This is not a criminal matter, I’m not a crook. I’ve worked hard all my life.”

He told the court he was no longer director of the company, had no savings and was on benefits.

If he was fined, he said he could only pay around £25 a week.

Magistrates fined Garber £650, ordered him to pay £2,000 costs and a £260 surcharge.

After the case Mark Chapman, Criminal Investigations Manager at the SIA, said: “The licensing regime and the regulations which underpin it are here to protect the public.

“Anyone going to visit their local pubs and clubs should be able to do so in the expectation of being in a safe environment with trained and licensed security staff present.

“Mr Garber actively obstructed our investigation into failures to comply with the legislation. The sentencing reflects his blatant disregard for the rules that are there to keep people safe.”

Garber had 47 paid-for heavyweight fights in a career that saw him box a young Lennox Lewis and John Fury, Tyson Fury’s father.