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Bid for 'martyr' pardon continues Bid for 'martyr' pardon continues
(about 1 hour later)
Metric Martyr campaigners say they will continue their fight to clear the name of a Sunderland trader ahead of an expected u-turn by the European Union.Metric Martyr campaigners say they will continue their fight to clear the name of a Sunderland trader ahead of an expected u-turn by the European Union.
In 2001, grocer Steve Thoburn became famous after being convicted for selling bananas in imperial measures. In 2001, grocer Steve Thoburn became famous after being convicted for using scales showing only imperial weights.
On Tuesday, the EU is expected to announce proposals allowing the UK to continue using pounds, miles and pints. The UK had been preparing to phase out imperial measurements, but on Tuesday the EU is expected to allow traders to continue using pounds, miles and pints.
Metric Martyrs director Neil Heron said a royal pardon for Mr Thoburn, who died in 2004, would be "job done". Campaigners say pardoning Mr Thoburn, who died in 2004, would end the matter.
The greengrocer hit the headlines after his scales were seized from his market stall by Trading Standards officers who caught him selling bananas by the pound. The greengrocer hit the headlines after his scales were seized from his market stall by Trading Standards officers .
It's a tragedy that he's not here to celebrate, but now the campaign has to be brought to its natural conclusion - a full pardon Neil HeronIt's a tragedy that he's not here to celebrate, but now the campaign has to be brought to its natural conclusion - a full pardon Neil Heron
He was convicted of breaching the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and given a six-month conditional discharge.He was convicted of breaching the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and given a six-month conditional discharge.
The group's appeals against conviction were rejected all the way up to the House of Lords and, in February 2004, by the European Court of Human Rights. The Metric Martyr group's appeals against conviction were rejected all the way up to the House of Lords and, in February 2004, by the European Court of Human Rights.
Mr Thoburn died of a heart attack the following month.Mr Thoburn died of a heart attack the following month.
The UK had been due to set a date for phasing out all its imperial measurements within three years, but the European Commission will announce later it is leaving all future decisions to the British government.The UK had been due to set a date for phasing out all its imperial measurements within three years, but the European Commission will announce later it is leaving all future decisions to the British government.
The EC's industry commissioner Gunter Verheugen admitted that the EU had made itself unpopular on an issue that didn't really matter.The EC's industry commissioner Gunter Verheugen admitted that the EU had made itself unpopular on an issue that didn't really matter.
'Metrication regulations''Metrication regulations'
Mr Heron, a Sunderland market trader who campaigned alongside Steve Thoburn, has organised a petition calling for the royal pardon. Neil Heron, Metric Martyrs campaign director, has organised a petition calling for a royal pardon.
He said: "If imperial measurements ever die away in this country, they should do so organically - not by threat and compulsion.He said: "If imperial measurements ever die away in this country, they should do so organically - not by threat and compulsion.
"Steve was one of only four people ever convicted under metrication regulations. Once we've put that right, we can say job done."Steve was one of only four people ever convicted under metrication regulations. Once we've put that right, we can say job done.
"It's a tragedy that he's not here to celebrate, but now the campaign has to be brought to its natural conclusion - a full pardon.""It's a tragedy that he's not here to celebrate, but now the campaign has to be brought to its natural conclusion - a full pardon."