Butcher fined pounds 10k for selling beef as lamb.

A BIRMINGHAM butcher who sold beef as lamb in a "disgraceful breach of trust" has been dished out a pounds 10,000 fine.

Surinder Paul Mattu, aged 42, of Cherry Orchard Road, Handsworth Wood, pleaded guilty to supplying the falsely-described meat to a Smethwick catering company in July 2008.

Mattu, trading as Paul's Meats, in Bacchus Road, Winson Green, was also ordered to pay pounds 396.50 costs by West Bromwich Magistrates.

Sandwell's cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, Coun Mahboob Hussain, said: "This was a disgraceful breach of trust between a butcher and his customer with very serious implications for people who could have ended up consuming this misdescribed meat.

"Trading standards received a complaint from the catering business which led to samples being taken of the meat Mattu had provided.

"Clearly there could have been serious implications for people who avoid beef for religious reasons if they had unknowingly eaten meat that had been passed off as lamb.

"If this had happened without this switch coming to light, the owner's catering business could have been ruined.

"The court took the matter very seriously and that was reflected in the fines handed down."