Daily Mail 8th October 2008
A market trader was convicted yesterday of selling fruit and vegetables using imperial measures – even though the EU says it should not be an offence.
Metric martyr Janet Devers, 64, said she had been made a 'scapegoat' after being sentenced for selling goods on her market stall in pounds rather than kilos.
The mother of two fought back tears as she was ordered by magistrates to pay almost £5,000 in costs and told she would have a criminal record after being found guilty of eight offences under the Weights and Measures Act.
The metric martyr: Janet Devers has been convicted of selling vegetables on her stall in pounds rather than kilos
As part of the landmark case, the greengrocer was also convicted of selling vegetables for £1 a bowl rather than counting them out individually – a practice commonplace amongst Britain's 40,000 market traders who use bowls to help customers baffled by grams and kilograms.
Now the pensioner, from Wanstead, East London, faces financial ruin as the costs of fighting the case could see her lose her market stall in nearby Dalston.
It has been in the family for more than 60 years since her mother Irene Hunt became one of the first woman to run a stall in the East End during the Blitz.
The verdict, which has outraged campaigners, comes a year after EU said it would no longer force Britain to adopt the metric system of weights and measures.
It became illegal to sell any goods in Britain in non-metric weights and measures under the EU's compulsory metrication policy in 2000.
In September last year, Gunther Verheugen, European Commission vice president for enterprise and industry, said Brussels never intended to criminalise those who sold in pounds and ounces.
But the laws under which Mrs Devers was prosecuted are still on the UK statute books.
Just a few days after Mr Verheugen made his remarks trading standards officials from Hackney Council, supported by two police officers, arrived at Mrs Devers's market stall to confiscate two sets of imperial, non-metric scales.
Today, at Thames Magistrates' Court, in the first UK prosecution since the EU ruling, she was convicted of using imperial scales without an official stamp and selling scotch bonnet peppers, okra, pak choi and peppers in bowls for £1 without giving the quantity or weight of produce in the bowl.
The pensioner was given a two-year conditional discharge, although magistrates accepted that she was only trying to offer customers value for money.
Dr Patrick Davies, chairman of the bench, said: 'We note that you said you were doing this in the interests of your customers, although you ought to have known you were breaking the law in doing so.'
Outside court Mrs Devers said: 'I'm incredibly worried about my financial future. I can't believe they prosecuted me for something that every market trader in London - in the UK - is doing. I've been made a scapegoat.
'The fact that they have given me a conditional discharge just shows that they think it is a big mistake to take me to court.
'Having a criminal record means I can't go and see my cousins in America. My daughter wants to go and live out there which means I might not see her. It's farcical.'
A spokesman for Hackney Council said: 'We are satisfied with the outcome of this case, but regret that legal action is required. It would have been much better if Mrs Devers had complied with the law 18 months ago.'
Anyone wanting to contribute to Mrs Devers's costs can send donations to the Metric Martyrs Defence Fund, PO Box 526, Sunderland, SR1 3YS.
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