An illegal meat trader who was jailed for operating out of filthy car washes has been ordered to repay £150,000. Gent Jakupi, from Devizes, was jailed for 10 months last year after pleading guilty to 39 food hygiene offences.
The investigation found that joints of beef and lamb were cut up in car washes across Wiltshire while surrounded by oil and dog waste. Jakupi, 41, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on 5 December and was served with a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The court concluded he had gained significant financial benefit from his offending, making £154,342.62, with £3,500 available for immediate confiscation. Jakupi has been ordered to repay the amount within three months or face a default prison term of three months in addition to his original sentence.
Councillor Ian Blair Pilling, cabinet member for public protection, said: 'I am pleased that in addition to the original conviction and custodial sentence, Mr Jakupi has been ordered to pay back his ill-gotten gains. This was one of the worst cases that our food and safety team have dealt with and the defendant put consumers and their families at serious risk.'
Jakupi was jailed following raids by Wiltshire Council's food and safety team on his illicit meat butchery and delivery business from hand car wash premises in Devizes and Ludgershall in October and November 2020. A total of 5.1 tonnes of meat was seized and condemned for destruction.
