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06
Feb
Four accused of salmon fraud at former Nidderdale smokehouse appear in court
Four people have denied misrepresenting the origin of smoked salmon products supplied by the former Bleiker's Smokehouse.
Charles Andrew, 59, of Main Street in Kirkby Malzeard, Alex McMorran, 61, of Central Avenue in Gretna, Dumfriesshire, Alexander Irvine, 62, of Hornbeam Drive in Healing, Grimsby, and Dana Timsa, 36, of Meadowfields in Morton-on-Swale, all appeared at Teesside Crown Court this morning (February 6).
They each denied one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
The defendants are accused of marketing smoked salmon products supplied by Bleiker’s Smoke House Ltd to Aldi UK as RSPCA assured Scottish salmon, when the products instead consisted in full or part of Norwegian salmon, between August 20, 2021, and March 30, 2022.
A trial date was set for June 28, 2027. It is expected to last four weeks.
The Food Standards Agency launched an investigation into the alleged fraud just days after Bleiker’s Smoke House Ltd, set up in 1993 and previously based at Glasshouses Mill, fell into administration in April 2022.
The company was founded by the Bleiker family from Burton Leonard, who stepped down as directors in 2006.
The smokehouse had moved in recent years to a business park at Leeming Bar, employing 86 members of staff and supplying supermarkets across the UK.
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