Blackmailer jailed
A blackmailer who claimed to have left contaminated baby food at ten Morrisons stores across the country started a three-year jail term yesterday.
Shane Ward (53), of 11 The Portway, South Lynn, left the supermarket giant with a 15,000 bill after leaving a suspect package and mobile telephone at its Lynn store in August.
Norwich Crown Court heard that a Jiffy bag addressed to the store manager and labelled "urgent attention needed" was left in the supermarket by Ward. It contained a jar of contaminated food and a letter signed by the Animal Defence Force saying contact would be made.
The move saw Morrisons remove the named baby food from 370 stores in the country at a labour cost of 15,000, while trade plummeted by 7,000.
A bomb disposal team from Colchester was also scrambled to help deal with the incident.
Ward admitted intending to cause economic loss to Morrisons in Lynn on August 10 by contaminating goods in the store.
Although he had not demanded money, he was in severe financial difficulties and gave false details in May 2007 to help him secure a mortgage of 122,000.
He was also sentenced for fraudulently obtaining housing benefit, council tax rebate and income support between January 2006 and February 2007, when he claimed to be unemployed.
The court was told that Ward was arrested three days after the offence as a salesgirl at Woolworths, where he bought the mobile telephone, knew him and where he worked.
Mr Andrew Baxter, prosecuting, said the Jiffy bag was found on the floor near the fresh fruit and vegetables and was handed to store manager Mark Ellis.
The police and a bomb disposal squad were immediately called and the package was found to contain a mobile telephone, a typed message and a jar of baby food, which was later found to be contaminated.
The message claimed ten contaminated jars of the same flavour food had been left in ten random stores across the country, without naming the branches, while stating further contact would be made via the mobile telephone.
The baby food which was sent for analysis was found to contain bleach.
Ward, a double-glazing salesman, denied everything at first but later told officers there was no risk to the public as the only jar he tampered with was found in the package.
Police soon determined he was in a dire financial situation and although he actually gained nothing it was clear demands for money would have been made.
The court heard Ward had fraudulently obtained a 122,000 mortgage and received 9,000 of benefit payments over the course of a year by making a false statement that he was unemployed.
Mr Michael Clare, mitigating, said Ward had been working too hard, was stressed and made the actions of a "hopeless and desperate man".
On passing sentence, Judge Paul Downes said: "The loss and damage you caused was considerable. Although there was no actual demand, and in the end you gained nothing, it is quite clear that it must have been for financial gain."
Speaking after the case, Det Ch Insp Jes Fry, of Norfolk Police, said: "This was a very serious offence and required close work between many different agencies in order to come to a successful result.
"Our rapid response demonstrates how quickly and effectively a specialised multi-agency team can be put together in order to bring a perpetrator to justice.
"Our priority at all times was the safety of the public. It was important to consider the careful balance between finding the person or people responsible and not causing unnecessary widespread alarm." Although there was no actual demand, and in the end you gained nothing, it is quite clear that it must have been for financial gain.”
Speaking after the case, Det Ch Insp Jes Fry, of Norfolk Police, said: “This was a very serious offence and required close work between many different agencies in order to come to a successful result.
“Our rapid response demonstrates how quickly and effectively a specialised multi-agency team can be put together in order to bring a perpetrator to justice.
“Our priority at all times was the safety of the public. It was important to consider the careful balance between finding the person or people responsible and not causing unnecessary widespread alarm.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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