Suffolk farmer Eric Moss fined over illegal meat sales

Eric Moss sold beef to restaurants and hotels across Suffolk

A farmer who unlawfully slaughtered cattle and sold meat illegally across Suffolk has been fined £15,000 and will have £83,000 seized by prosecutors.

Eric Moss, 71, of Botany Farm, Farnham, pleaded guilty to not registering his cattle and recording their movements or deaths.

He was sentenced for four offences at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.

Suffolk County Council said Moss failed to comply with strict guidelines imposed after the 1990s BSE outbreak.

In total, he was fined £2,000 for keeping unregistered cattle and £10,000 for failing to register the movement or death of cattle.

He was also fined £1,000 for "possession of carcass" and £2,000 for failing to document the fact that 94 of his cattle were no longer on the farm.

'Serious consequences'

The authority, which prosecuted in the case, said Moss was arrested following an inspection by trading standards officers in May 2009.

It said officers found 93 cattle on his farm, near Saxmundham, that had not been registered with the British Cattle Movement Service.

It said 94 registered cattle were no longer on the farm and could not be traced at a time when Moss was selling beef at farmers' markets and to restaurants and hotels across the county.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), Moss was told to pay £83,000 by 31 January or face two years in prison.

The court also ruled he would be jailed for six months if he does not pay his £15,000 fine by January.

He faces a bill of £18,000 to cover the costs of the criminal and POCA proceedings.

Colin Spence, of the council, said: "By failing to provide the crucial records about the number of cattle, and their movement to and from the farm, Mr Moss has committed offences which could have serious consequences to public health."