Four men have been hit with prison sentences after flogging disgusting meat unfit for consumption – including testicles – in South London. Southwark Council’s officers uncovered the disgusting 1.9 tonne haul after a tip-off by the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) that dodgy food – practices were being carried out on East Street, Walworth.
They found the illegal cutting plant was not registered as a food business, had no running hot water and the meat was prepared in unhygienic conditions. It was processing whole and cut chickens, lamb’s testicles and beef burgers.
The NFCU traced the gross grub back to legitimate food businesses and found the meat had found its way to Fears Animal Byproducts in Somerset for manufacture into pet foods or for safe disposal. Anthony Fear, sole director of a business known as Fears Animal Products Ltd was sentenced to 42 months in prison for conspiracy to defraud by placing food not fit for human consumption on the market, and disqualified from acting as a company director for six years.
Mark Hooper, a manager at the same firm was hit with two years in prison, suspended for two years, for conspiracy to defraud by placing food not fit for human consumption on the market and was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Azar Irshad was sentenced to 35 months in prison for conspiracy to defraud, failure to comply with Regulation 19 of the Food Safety & Hygiene Regulations relating to unapproved premises, placing food not fit for human consumption on the market (Smokies), placing food not fit for human consumption on the market (Out of date beef burgers) and placing food not fit for human consumption on the market (Illegally diverted ABP Cat 3).
He was also given a criminal behaviour order for an indefinite period, prohibiting any involvement in the food industry. Ali Afzal was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 21 months, 150 hours unpaid work, and ordered to pay costs of £5,000, for failure to comply with Reg 19 Food Safety & Hygiene Regulations relating to unapproved premises.
Costs for Fear, Hooper, and Irshad will also be determined following the conclusion of confiscation proceedings. Mark Hooper also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges relating to a separate matter in Aylesbury and received a concurrent 24-month sentence.
The sentencing follows court proceedings on a complex investigation that began when Southwark officers discovered 1.9 tonnes of Category 3 animal by- products, including whole and cut chickens, lamb’s testicles and beef burgers, being processed for sale into the human food chain at an illegal meat cutting plant in London.
Councillor Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods, said: “This sentencing marks the end of a long and determined investigation to hold food criminals to account. These individuals operated with complete disregard for public health, motivated solely by greed.
“Consumers have a right to trust the safety of their food. We are grateful to our officers and to the NFCU for their tireless efforts in exposing this criminal enterprise.
“The sentences handed down today send a clear message: food crime will not be tolerated.”
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