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Meat con gang boss tracked by BBC | Meat con gang boss tracked by BBC |
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A businessman who sold unfit meat to hospitals, schools and supermarkets has been jailed for six years after spending four years on the run. | |
Peter Roberts, 72, known as "Maggot Pete", was convicted in 2003 of fraud but fled the country after the start of the 12-week trial. | |
A BBC Inside Out investigation tracked him to Northern Cyprus and presented evidence to local authorities. | A BBC Inside Out investigation tracked him to Northern Cyprus and presented evidence to local authorities. |
Roberts was deported and appeared at Derby Crown Court on Wednesday. | |
He will now serve his six-year prison sentence that was imposed in 2003 for his role in leading the gang which made at least £1m selling diseased chicken carcasses. | He will now serve his six-year prison sentence that was imposed in 2003 for his role in leading the gang which made at least £1m selling diseased chicken carcasses. |
The scam involved selling the contaminated meat from a plant in Denby, Derbyshire, to meat wholesalers. | The scam involved selling the contaminated meat from a plant in Denby, Derbyshire, to meat wholesalers. |
The meat was classed unfit for human consumption | The meat was classed unfit for human consumption |
It ended up in major supermarkets across the country and was even sold to hospitals and schools, the court heard. | It ended up in major supermarkets across the country and was even sold to hospitals and schools, the court heard. |
Roberts was convicted at Nottingham Crown Court in September 2003 of conspiracy to defraud and failing to surrender to custody. | Roberts was convicted at Nottingham Crown Court in September 2003 of conspiracy to defraud and failing to surrender to custody. |
The investigation into Denby Poultry Products began in December 2000. | The investigation into Denby Poultry Products began in December 2000. |
The multi-agency operation involved more than 100 police officers as well as around 50 local authority environmental health officers and Meat Hygiene Service staff. | The multi-agency operation involved more than 100 police officers as well as around 50 local authority environmental health officers and Meat Hygiene Service staff. |
Denby Poultry Products was a pet food processing plant registered to receive waste from poultry slaughterhouses for use in pet food. | Denby Poultry Products was a pet food processing plant registered to receive waste from poultry slaughterhouses for use in pet food. |
But the business became involved in a chain of supply that stretched to businesses in Northampton, Milton Keynes and Bury. | But the business became involved in a chain of supply that stretched to businesses in Northampton, Milton Keynes and Bury. |
The gang was based at premises described as rat-infested and sewage-ridden, where they butchered one million unfit chickens and turkeys before selling the meat. | The gang was based at premises described as rat-infested and sewage-ridden, where they butchered one million unfit chickens and turkeys before selling the meat. |
Police raided the company's premises in March 2001 after an investigation lasting more than 30 months triggered by an anonymous tip-off. | Police raided the company's premises in March 2001 after an investigation lasting more than 30 months triggered by an anonymous tip-off. |
The full BBC Inside Out East Midlands investigation into Maggot Pete will be aired on 19 September. | The full BBC Inside Out East Midlands investigation into Maggot Pete will be aired on 19 September. |