Owners of a village pub are searching for a new tenant after the previous boss convicted of having child sex abuse videos left the business.

Christian Diamant - who ran the White Horse, in Bridge, near Canterbury - was handed a two-year community rehabilitation order after admitting having the indecent material on his iPhone.

A judge spared him unpaid community work so as not to “upset his business”, ordering him to attend a sex offenders programme.

But KentOnline understands the 51-year-old left the pub before news of his conviction was made public on Thursday.

Enterprise Inns, which owns the White Horse, has confirmed Diamant is no longer the tenant and the search for a successor has already begun.

The new person in charge will be tasked with quickly restoring the reputation of the pub, which has been damaged by the connection to Diamant’s crimes.

On Friday night - after Diamant had departed - it had its windows smashed by vandals branded “small-minded idiots” by villagers.

It is understood former staff at the pub - unconnected in any way to Diamant’s crimes - have also suffered verbal abuse, with one employee forced to give up his accommodation at the White Horse.

Police have launched an investigation into the vandalism and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Any witnesses, or anyone with CCTV footage, is urged to call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/176684/20.

Enterprise Inns says it is “actively recruiting” for a new tenant at the White Horse and has asked anyone interested to get in touch by calling 03333 200036.

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