Soldier forced to pay club entry — but PCSO goes free

Photo: Anthony Miller

Mark Burnett with his army ID card.

A SERVING soldier back from a seven-month tour of Afghanistan was stunned when he was refused free entry to an Oldham night club.

Mark Burnett (30), from New Street, Lees, was out with pals when they approached Envy night club in Retiro Street at about 1am on Saturday.

His friend, a police community support officer with Greater Manchester Police, was given free entry when he showed his ID card.

But when Mr Burnett showed his army identification, he was told he would have to pay.

Mr Burnett said: “My mate showed his ID and got in for free so, being part of the forces, I thought I’d give it a go.

“It’s a forces ID card with my rank on it but I was refused free entry. One of the bouncers said he did not recognise my ID and said ‘That doesn’t mean anything to me’. What’s the difference between serving as a police officer and as a soldier?

“If the fire service and police get into places for free, then how is it any different if you are a serving soldier?”

Mr Burnett is a corporal with the Royal Logistic Corps and has served with them for 11 years in various trouble-spots, including Kosovo, Iraq and Northern Ireland.

The father-of-one, based in Oxfordshire, is on six-weeks leave and has been a regular at the club for years.

He said: “It’s discrimination. In the end we paid to get in but it’s not about the money — it should be one rule for all. The forces are the forces and we should all be treated equally.”

A spokesman for Luminar Group Holdings, which runs the nightclub, said: “Complimentary entrance to Luminar night clubs is at the discretion of individual club managers. The manager of Liquid & Envy in Oldham wasn’t aware of the request made by the customer.”