Salesman fined after being caught trying to sell ‘gone off ’ fish

A SALESMAN from England has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds after he was caught trying to sell “gone off” fish from the back of a van to elderly people in Wales.

Alexander Hannan, trading as Alex Fisheries, travelled around Ceredigion making unsolicited calls to the homes of elderly residents, trying to sell them produce from the back of his white Ford Transit van.

Complaints were made about Hannan, from Great Lumley, Chester-le-Street, stating that the fish he was selling was not only overpriced but that it had, in fact, “gone off”.

Following his travels around Ceredigion in November 2018, he returned to the county two months later, in January 2019, when police pulled over his van in Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth.

In the back, packs of fish, both labelled and unlabelled, were found scattered all over the floor.

Hannan, aged 48, admitted to officers from Ceredigion Council’s Public Protection Service that he did not have any traceability documentation for the fish in his van, which would record who had supplied him with the produce – something that is a legal requirement under food safety legislation.

He did insist that he could get a receipt for the goods within the coming days, but failed to do so, and continued to fail to produce the relevant details even after written reminders were sent to him.

Nine packs from the back of his van were surrendered to environmental health officers, who carried out formal analysis on the fish. Their tests showed that the majority of the fish had negligible remaining shelf life, while some exhibited distinct odours consistent with the fish being off.

“Residents need to be aware that they are taking a risk if they buy food from unknown traders,” said councillor Gareth Lloyd, cabinet member with responsibility for the council’s public protection service.

“There are reputable fish sellers acting in the county with established rounds. However, if you receive a cold-call from a trader that you have never met before offering you fish out of the back of a van, see it for exactly what it is.

“Our public protection service is there to protect consumers and take action against rogue traders who flout the law.”

Hannan appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Monday and admitted failing to assist Trading Standards Officers from Ceredigion Council.

He pleaded guilty to two offences under the General Food Regulations 2004.

He was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more than £700.