WANSTEAD: Worldwide support for 'metric martyr' (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WANSTEAD: Worldwide support for 'metric martyr'

9:40am Friday 10th October 2008

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OFFERS of help from around the world have flooded in for a market trader faced with court costs of nearly £5,000 for selling fruit in pounds rather than kilos.

After a lengthy year-long legal battle with Hackney Council, ‘metric martyr’ Janet Devers, of Colbrook Drive in Wanstead, was last week found guilty on eight counts of breaking the Weights and Measures Act, along with selling unweighed vegetables for £1 a bowl.

She was given a conditional discharge but the landmark ruling will have serious implications for other market traders across the capital, and the costs could spell financial ruin for Mrs Devers.

“It’s an absolute disgrace,” said the 64-year-old. “No-one can believe this has happened. I’ve now got a criminal record and got to pay £4,700, which I can’t do. I’m a market trader, how much money do they think I make?

“I’ve got some hope though. I’ve had so many phone calls of support since the verdict. I’ve had cheques from Lords and Ladies, I’ve had Vanessa Feltz on the line and I even had a man from Texas phoning up asking where he could send a cheque to. It’s fantastic but I’m still very upset.”

Campaigners argue the prosecution should never have been brought in the first place, following comments last September by European Commissioner Gunter Verheugen, who said the metric rules were not intended to apply to traders selling small amounts of loose goods.

But a spokeswoman for Hackney defended the decision to prosecute.

She said: “We are satisfied with the outcome of this case but regret that legal action was required.

“It would have been much better if Ms Devers had complied with the law 18 months ago.”

Mrs Devers and the Metric Martyr campaign group now plan on lobbying MPs for a change in the law, and are due to meet London Mayor Boris Johnson over the issue.

And despite the ruling, the battle between Mrs Devers and Hackney Council is not over yet.

She is set to return to Snaresbrook Crown Court in January next year to face further charges under the Weights and Measures Act.

To help Janet in her campaign visit metricmartyrs.co.uk.

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