Peanut accused 'bore no grudge'

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A court has been told a Nottingham man sabotaged a nut-free food factory in revenge after being disciplined for having a "girlie calendar".

Paul Bentley, 42, is accused of leaving peanuts at Pork Farms' Riverside Bakery in the city on 12 July 2007, costing the firm about Â£1.2m.

Mr Bentley, of Clifton, told Nottingham Crown Court he bore no grudge over the removal of the calendar.

He denies a charge of possessing material for contamination.

The court heard the nuts were found strewn around the bakery.

The halt to production and the clean-up operation cost the company Â£1.2m.

Suicide attempt

Martin Elwick, defending, asked Mr Bentley if he had taken umbrage over the calendar being removed.

Mr Bentley, of Listowel Crescent, told him: "It was no big deal."

When asked if he bore any grudge that motivated him to sabotage the factory, he replied: "No."

It was claimed traces of nuts were found on Mr Bentley's work clothes and he was suspended, the jury heard.

Mr Bentley told the court he had picked up a nut after a colleague discovered about 30 on a locker room floor.

He said he told his fellow worker to inform the company's human resources department.

Mr Bentley told the jury how his world "dropped apart" after his suspension and during the police investigation.

The court heard he began taking medication for depression and while in custody in prison after his arrest he tried to hang himself.

The trial has been adjourned until Monday.

Paul Bentley denies taking revenge after being disciplined