Two men have been sentenced to prison for conspiring to sell meat designated for pet food as fit for human consumption. Anthony Fear, 63, operated a company supplying meat considered unfit for people to Azar Irshad, 40, who managed a cutting room in South London where the meat was processed and sold to unsuspecting customers.
The illicit meat — including whole chickens and lambs’ testicles — was destined either for disposal or pet food production but was instead illegally prepared and sold as human food. Trading Standards launched an investigation after residents near a business on Walworth Road, South London, reported an overwhelming stench of rotting meat coming from a “disgustingly filthy” shop in 2020.
Photographs taken by neighbours showed large containers of meat left out in the sun. Inspectors also discovered an illegal cutting operation behind stacked boxes in a linked premises on East Street, where raw poultry was being cut, skinned, and portioned for sale despite being tainted.
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Irshad ran the premises in partnership with Ali Afzal and the late Arshad Akhtar. Once meat is classified as an animal by-product, it is strictly forbidden for human consumption due to serious food safety risks. Despite this, Irshad, a halal butcher, made 16 trips to Fear’s supplier business in Bridgwater, Somerset, to collect meat, which was processed in unsanitary conditions.
The investigation recovered 1.9 tonnes of animal by-products, including whole and cut chickens, lambs’ testicles, and beef burgers, all improperly handled and stored at an unregistered site in Walworth. The source was traced back to Fear’s company, which was contracted to collect animal by-products for pet food manufacturer Saria.
Following a 12-week trial, Fear and his company, Fears Animal Products Limited, were convicted of conspiracy to introduce meat unfit for human consumption into the food chain. Judge Noel Lucas KC described Fear as “a greedy man” and a reckless risk-taker driven solely by profit, showing blatant disregard for public safety and trust.
Fear received a 42-month prison sentence and a six-year disqualification from serving as a business director. Irshad, who admitted his involvement and other regulatory offences, was sentenced to 35 months imprisonment plus six months for related offences, with concurrent terms. Additionally, he was banned from selling or handling food products until further notice.
Mark Hooper, a manager at Fear’s business, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and received a two-year suspended sentence with 200 hours of community service. Ali Afzal was sentenced to a six-month suspended prison term, 150 hours unpaid work, and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs.
The court deferred decisions on victim costs for Fear, Irshad, and Hooper.
Andrew Quinn, head of the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), emphasized, “These sentences demonstrate zero tolerance for criminal activities in our food system. This case highlights the grave risks to consumer safety when food safety regulations are deliberately violated.”
Local councillor Natasha Ennin applauded the verdict as the result of persistent investigation, stating, “These criminals blatantly ignored public health, driven by greed. Consumers deserve to trust the safety of their food.”