Farmer who lied that his eggs were free range faces jail over fraud

James Gigg, 41, is facing jail after he admitted to fraud over his farm eggs, falsely claiming they were free range

A farmer who lied to customers that his expensive eggs were free range is now facing jail over fraud.

James Gigg is facing jail after he admitted to fraud, which had originally been estimated between £230,000 and £290,000.

But the final value of the fraud has to be determined before the 41-year-old can be sentenced, the court was told on Monday. 

Gigg is also accused of packing 3,000 more chickens into his hen houses on his farm in Yetminster, Dorset, than he is allowed.

He has previously admitted to three offences, which can carry a three year term of imprisonment.

One offence occurred between November 2015 and January 2017 at his Meadoway farm.

He dishonestly made a false representation that the eggs he sold to the Traditional Free Range Egg Company were classed as free range.

However, he was aware they could not be classed as such, intending to make a profit of approximately £230,000 for himself, the court was told.

Gigg is also accused of packing 3,000 more chickens into his hen houses on his farm in Yetminster, Dorset, than he is allowed

Gigg is also accused of packing 3,000 more chickens into his hen houses on his farm in Yetminster, Dorset, than he is allowed

He also admitted to furnishing false information to a person acting in the execution of the Eggs and Chicks Regulations in 2009. 

The egg productions, records and sales he provided did not accurately reflect actual egg production and sales for the relevant period.

And Gigg failed to comply with EU provisions in that he marketed eggs as class A free range from 5,500 hens in House 1 and 8,500 hens in House 2.

But the maximum permitted was 4,000 hens and 6,500 hens, respectively.

At Taunton Crown Court, Judge David Evans was told that the £230,000 figure was based on the premise that all these eggs were effectively sold illegally.

Gigg’s lawyers argued Gigg is a farmer with no previous convictions who in a probation pre-sentence report ‘strenuously disputes the financial gains he has made’.

At Taunton Crown Court (pictured), Judge David Evans was told that the £230,000 figure was based on the premise that all these eggs were effectively sold illegally

At Taunton Crown Court (pictured), Judge David Evans was told that the £230,000 figure was based on the premise that all these eggs were effectively sold illegally

The judge was told that the £230,000 was the gross turnover of his farm and not the profit from the eggs.

His defence team argued that the value of the fraud was £86,700 – and the amount would affect the sentencing.

Prosecutor Ian Fenny said: ‘I am not in a position to agree with this, there may be no dispute.’ 

Judge Evans told Gigg that he could not sentence him on ‘a mistaken basis’ and the ‘value of the fraud has to be decided’.

Gigg was bailed and will discover his fate next month.  



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