Fine for rancid meat mastermind

- Published: 06 October, 2008

The master mind behind a gang who sold rancid meat for human consumption in Derbyshire has been ordered to repay £167,000.

Peter Roberts,73, the former head of Denby Poultry Products of Ripley, was convicted in 2003, along with others, of conspiracy charges relating to the sale of meat unfit for human consumption and was sentenced to six years in jail.

Now at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing before Derby Crown Court,and following an investigation of his financial affairs, he has been ordered to hand over his assets or face further time in jail.

During the original trial evidence was given that Roberts had bought rejected chicken that should have been used as pet food and sold it on, some of it even ending up in schools and hospitals.

During the case Roberts went on the run and was only brought back from Cyprus to begin his sentence last year.