Liam Dooney, age 52, from Wigan pleaded guilty in Bolton Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 28 August) following an investigation by National Food Crime Unit (NFCU).
He was granted bail by the court until 29 September 2025, when he will appear at Bolton crown court to be sentenced.
The NFCU compiled evidence of a series of offences where fraudsters impersonated legitimate food businesses in the UK.
“The guilty plea today is a result of the hard work and tenacity of all those involved in this investigation. This has been a complex and challenging case, involving several partner agencies, including Greater Manchester Police, Wigan Council, and the Crown Prosecution Service. There is no place in the food industry for any form of criminal activity.
“We’d urge anyone who has suspicions or concerns about food fraud linked to stolen food commodities to discuss it with us confidentially on 0800 028 1180,” said Neil Castle, deputy head of the NFCU
Elsewhere, four arrests have been made on suspicion of fraud related to the sale of rice, while four others have been given custodial sentences for diverting meat not fit for human consumption back into the human food chain.
The NFCU is a dedicated law enforcement function of the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The unit provides leadership on food crime across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It was established in 2015 following a review of the 2013 horse meat incident and is tasked with protecting consumers and the food industry from food crime within food supply chains.
