Published: 3 February, 2012

A BUTCHER who dumped raw meat outside his shop off Edgware Road has been fined following investigations by Westminster City Council.

Shumon Choudhury, of St John’s Wood, left 10 bin liners full of meat overnight on the street outside New Al-Madina Grocers, Church Street, in November 2010.

At Southwark Crown Court Mr Choudhury admitted a charge of “failure to comply with his duty of care as regards waste”.

In mitigation Nicolas Whitehorn said his client had found himself in possession of an “unforeseen” amount of meat after failing to sell a quantity he had purchased in advance of the festival of Eid.

Mr Choudhury had been advised it was safe to store raw meat refuse on the street if it was “double-bagged”.

But prosecutor Mark Seymour said Mr Choudhury’s actions contravened health and safety rules and could have caused a public health hazard.

Judge David Higgins said Mr Choudhury’s actions were “deplorable and deeply anti-social” but added: “I do not think he appreciated that what he was doing was wrong.”

He ordered Mr Choudhury to pay a £2,000 fine and £1,500 in costs and the company, New Al-Madina Grocers Ltd, was fined £2,000 with £2,000 costs.