David Leslie Fruits Ltd, a soft-fruit farmer in Scones of Lethendy, Perth, has been prosecuted for using an unlicensed Bulgarian gangmaster.

David Leslie Fruits Ltd is the first labour user to be prosecuted under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act.

After pleading guilty in Perth Sheriff Court, David Leslie Fruits Ltd has been sentenced to pay a fine of £500.

The prosecution was the result of a Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) investigation which uncovered that an unlicensed business in Bulgaria had supplied 250 Bulgarian workers to pick strawberries at the farm in the summer of 2008.

All the workers left the farm after the GLA’s action, with most going home to Bulgaria. The GLA investigation was conducted with Tayside Police and other government enforcement agencies.

Paul Whitehouse, GLA chairman, said: “David Leslie Fruits Ltd has paid the price for using an illegal gangmaster. This prosecution sends a warning to all farmers who are tempted to use unlicensed labour providers whether they are in this country or abroad."

Following an inaccurate news report, UK SAWS operator Concordia (YSV) Ltd moved to make the following statement: “A news report in Scotland today appears to confuse Concordia (YSV) Ltd with Concordia Group Ltd, a Bulgarian company that has supplied labour to David Leslie Fruits Ltd.

“David Leslie Fruits Ltd pleaded guilty to using an unlicenced gangmaster and has been found to have broken the law. Concordia (YSV) Ltd has no connection with this case and has never supplied David Leslie Fruits Ltd.

“Concordia (YSV) Ltd does not have and never has had any connection with Concordia Group Ltd or Total Services based in Bulgaria.”

Topics