Guilty plea for Yorkshire director over horsemeat fraud

TWO directors, including a Yorkshire-based executive, have admitted allegations relating to horsemeat fraud.

Hull’s Alex Ostler-Beech, 44, along with Dane Ulrik Nielsen, 57 pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud this week after passing off horsemeat as beef.

Ostler-Beech was formerly a director at several now-dissolved companies based in Hull, and another in Worcestershire, Java Supplies. He is currently director at several meat companies including wholesaler Duda Poultry based on Newlands Science Park near Hull.

The charges relate to events between 1 January and 31 October 2012, shortly before the wider supermarket horsemeat fraud was discovered, during which time the men were accused of arranging for beef and horsemeat to be combined for sale as beef.

Andronicos Sideras, 54, of north London who was charged along with the first two men denied the allegations and is due to stand trial at the same court on 3 July.

Nielsen and Beech will wait until after the trial for sentencing.