Butcher’s ‘justice’ bid fails

Apr 1 2009 Wallasey News

Butcher’s ‘justice’ bid fails

A FORMER butcher who claimed he was cheated out of more than £2m in lost sales and breaches of contract by a major chain has had his case thrown out by the High Court.

Carl Hayes, 43, operated butchers’ concession units at Kwik Save stores – now part of the Somerfield group – around Merseyside from Birkenhead-based Cleveland Butchers.

He brought his case alleging Somerfield had “mis-scanned” his meat and deli products at the check-out till, cheating him out of a large amount of his weekly sales.

But this was struck out by Judge Jeremy McMullen, who considered the case on its merits, despite commenting on Hayes campaign against the chain: “This material is abusive. It is an entirely inappropriate way to ventilate a grievance which he continues to nurse.”

After his contracts were cancelled, his firm went bust with the loss of 94 jobs and Hayes himself had since been declared personally bankrupt.

Hayes who owes £719,000 to creditiors, now faces legal costs.