A MAN who sold potentially poisonous apricot kernels, claiming they could cure cancer, has narrowly avoided jail.

Roger Shelley, 65, of Olivia Drive, Leigh, director of Vitamin Service Limited, in London Road, Leigh, sold the kernels through his company website.

Basildon Crown Court heard yesterday **feb 2** the kernels contain vitamin B17, known as laetrile, which contains cyanide and can be fatal in high doses.

Shelley was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months and 120 hours community service.

Vitamin Service Limited was fined a total of £10,000.

Sentencing Shelley, His Honour Judge Jonathan Black, said: “You caused those at their most vulnerable, those suffering from cancer or anxious about cancer to believe that you could provide a cure or prevention for that disease.

“There is no credible research to suggest that is the case.

“The apricot kernels could have led to serious side effects, namely cyanide poisoning.”

Judge Black said he was able to suspend Shelley’s sentence because of his age, the fact it was his first offence and because he had previously worked to help the community.

Shelley admitted selling the prescription-only and toxic B17, misleading customers and offering treatment advice when linked to a commercial operation.

Lee Wilcockson, prosecuting, told the court that Shelley’s company sold vitamins which can be combined in a technique known as “metabolic therapy”, through its website.

The page selling the apricot kernels was linked to another page, www.worldwithoutcancer.org.uk, which Shelley helped to run.

That website claimed the vitamin B17 contained in the kernels was able to cure illnesses, including cancer, which is in breach of consumer protection regulations.

Lisa Freeman, mitigating, told the court Shelley had tried metabolic therapy when he was diagnosed with cancer and had believed he had benefited from it.

She said: “He genuinely believed this was a therapy that could help people. It was a well held belief based on his own use when he was suffering from cancer.

“He believed in alternative views. He had benefited from it and the sale of it would help individuals in his position.”

Shelley’s company sold the kernels for £13 per 5kg plus postage and packaging of £2.95.

Ms Freeman said there had been some research carried out in America and Germany which supported the use of apricot kernels but this had not been corroborated by experts.

 

Essex Trading Standards investigation into cancer cure claims

THE prosecution against Roger Shelley was brought following a year-long investigation by Essex County Council.

Roger Walters, cabinet member for trading standards at Essex County Council said: “This case was the result of a long and complex investigation by Essex Trading Standards, which required permission from the Secretary of State for Health in order to prosecute under the Human Medicines Regulations, which was new territory for Trading Standards.

“Trading Standards advice to people who are considering whether to take any substance not prescribed for a medical purpose, either preventative or as a treatment, is to consult their doctor first.”

Mr Walters added: “I hope the public feel safer knowing that Essex Trading Standards will take action where traders are trying to sell products which are neither medically proven nor safe.

It took nearly 12 months to conclude the investigation, as it involved meticulously searching through computer file going back ten years which revealed victims across Europe.”