Butcher charged over selling mislabelled meat

A butcher appeared in court before Christmas charged with placing fake adverts in local papers and selling mislabelled meat.

Simon Drust, 49, owner of The Meat Shack in Studley, Warwickshire, placed adverts in the Redditch Standard, Solihull Observer and on Facebook saying 'Buy British-All Beef pork, Lamb and Chicken' when it was not British, the Redditch Advertiser reported.

Mr Drust, from Johns Close in Studley, appeared at Warwick Magistrates Court on December 19 facing a number of charges relating to fraud and misleading customers. The charges included the sale of non-British meat under banners stating Best British Beef, Best British Pork, Best British Chicken and Poultry and Best British Lamb.

Other charges include misleading customers about the country of origin of meat sold in the shop, the breed from which beef was derived, whether pork was free range, and whether meats and poultry were fresh or had been frozen.

Also appearing at the court was Susan Mitchell director of The Meat Shack Studley Ltd , 51 and also of Johns Close in Studley, who faces the same charges.

 Both Mr Drust and Mrs Mitchell were released on unconditional bail. They are both set to appear at Warwick Crown Court on January 22.