A CHURCH has been left with a £12,000 legal bill after a judge dismissed its appeal to stop lapdancing at a city club.

The Rev Vaughan Roberts, rector of St Ebbe’s Church, took Thirst Lodge to a three-day trial at Oxford Magistrates’ Court after it changed from a nightclub to a strip club in October.

The change of use at the Pennyfarthing Place site was approved by the city council licensing committee but the church lodged an appeal.

Today, Deputy District Judge Gary Lucie threw out the appeal after finding there was no public nuisance, the church’s activities rarely overlapped with Thirst Lodge’s opening hours and crime and disorder had actually fallen.

He said the moral argument on lapdancing venues could not be explored under current legislation.

Following the verdict, Craig Baylis, representing Thirst Lodge’s Rob Opher, asked for £25,000 costs and Deputy District Judge Lucie agreed to £12,000.

Speaking outside court, Mr Roberts said: “We felt absolutely we had grounds for appeal and for the sake of the church and the city of Oxford it was right to bring it.”