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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bid for 'martyr' pardon continues | Bid for 'martyr' pardon continues |
| (about 3 hours 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 using scales showing only imperial weights. | In 2001, grocer Steve Thoburn became famous after being convicted for using scales showing only imperial weights. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Campaigners say pardoning Mr Thoburn, who died in 2004, would end the matter. | Campaigners say pardoning Mr Thoburn, who died in 2004, would end the matter. |
| The Metric Martyrs group says he deserves a posthumous pardon - though consumer watchdogs said the new EU decision would not have affected the circumstances of his offence. | |
| 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 Heron | 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 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 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. | 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 Metric Martyrs have hailed the move as a victory for their campaign to clear Mr Thoburn's name, despite the fact it will still be illegal to use imperial-only scales. | |
| Neil Heron, the campaign director who has organised a petition calling for a royal pardon, said: "It is true that if Steve did today what he did in 2001, he could still be prosecuted, but that doesn't change the fact that the petition has a huge amount of support. | |
| "If he was here today he would see the EU's announcement as a great cause for celebration. It's a tragedy that he sadly isn't with us. | |
| "If imperial measurements ever die away in this country, they should do so organically - not by threat and compulsion. | |
| "It's a tragedy that he's not here today, but now the campaign still has to be brought to its natural conclusion - a full pardon." | |