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Lindt Lindor chocolate sabotage woman sentenced | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A woman who replaced chocolates with small objects such as rubber balls, marbles and conkers has been sentenced. | A woman who replaced chocolates with small objects such as rubber balls, marbles and conkers has been sentenced. |
Wendy Purser, 55, wrapped the objects in Lindt Lindor cellophane before returning them to shops, where they were re-shelved and sold on. | |
Prosecutors said she had "no apparent grievance" against the Swiss chocolatier and her motives were unclear. | Prosecutors said she had "no apparent grievance" against the Swiss chocolatier and her motives were unclear. |
She was given a 12-month suspended sentence at Basildon Crown Court. | She was given a 12-month suspended sentence at Basildon Crown Court. |
'No blackmail demands' | 'No blackmail demands' |
The judge also ordered Purser, of Little Russets in Brentwood, to undergo mental health treatment after she admitted contaminating goods with intent to cause alarm or injury. | The judge also ordered Purser, of Little Russets in Brentwood, to undergo mental health treatment after she admitted contaminating goods with intent to cause alarm or injury. |
Prosecutor Frank Ferguson said she had "put members of the public, especially children at real and serious risk of choking". | Prosecutor Frank Ferguson said she had "put members of the public, especially children at real and serious risk of choking". |
The court heard she contaminated chocolates bought from Asda and Wilko stores around Essex between 10 March and 16 May 2015. | The court heard she contaminated chocolates bought from Asda and Wilko stores around Essex between 10 March and 16 May 2015. |
Mr Ferguson said Purser and her family "do not have any connection to Lindt, or any apparent reason for a grievance against the firm". | Mr Ferguson said Purser and her family "do not have any connection to Lindt, or any apparent reason for a grievance against the firm". |
"No blackmail demands were made either to Lindt or to the stores where she returned the chocolates," he said. | "No blackmail demands were made either to Lindt or to the stores where she returned the chocolates," he said. |
He said that contaminating food in this way is a serious matter and can carry carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. | He said that contaminating food in this way is a serious matter and can carry carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. |
Police found Purser had contaminated chocolates bought at: | Police found Purser had contaminated chocolates bought at: |
The affected items were "quickly discovered" and no harm came to anyone, Mr Ferguson added. | The affected items were "quickly discovered" and no harm came to anyone, Mr Ferguson added. |