A STUDLEY butcher has appeared in court charged with placing fake adverts in local papers and selling mislabelled meat.

Simon Drust, 49, owner of The Meat Shack at Spernal Garden Centre on Alcester Road, placed adverts in the Redditch Standard, Solihull Observer and on Facebook saying "Buy British-All Beef pork, Lamb and Chicken" when much of it came from abroad.

The 49-year-old, from Johns Close in Studley, appeared at Coventry Crown Court on Monday facing a number of charges relating to fraud and misleading customers.

Drust was charged with dishonestly making false representation to make a gain which he admitted.

He also admitted a further charge of “carrying on the business of the company with intent to defraud”.

Also appearing was director of The Meat Shack Susan Mitchell, also of Johns Close in Studley.

She entered pleas of guilty on behalf of the company to “possessing/controlling article(s) for use in fraud and dishonestly making false representation to make gain for self/another".

Two butchers Dominic Brown, 55, from Shelden, and Michael McCarron, 61, from Solihull also appeared and received cautions for their part and their charges were allowed to lie on file.

Drust and Mitchell were both released on bail to return to court for sentencing on November 5.