BUTCHER Peter Buck ignored pricing advice from trading standards and then failed to act after a customer complained about the cost of lamb, a court heard yesterday

Buck, of Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, who has a shop in North Street, Ripon, was given a fine of £1,800 with £390 costs by Harrogate magistrates.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of giving misleading price indications on lamb shoulder, two of failing to give a price for lettuce and cucumber and one of not indicating a variety for potatoes.

North Yorkshire trading standards prosecutor Nicola Pearson said a complaint was made against Buck, 63, by customer Keith Chapman in March after he had been offered lamb at £1.50 a pound when a price board behind the counter indicated the cost was 98p.

When officers visited the shop, Buck was not there, but employee Philip Marley had sold a piece of lamb for £13.50 which, according to the price board, should have cost £8.39. Other breaches of regulations, involving vegetables and salad, were also found.

Miss Pearson said Buck had been advised on pricing and labelling during a routine inspection by trading standards officers in February last year, with further advice given after a complaint nine months later.

Yet unclear and misleading pricing had still been in place when Mr Chapman and officials called at the shop.

In mitigation, Michael Slimming said that Buck had accepted responsibility for errors, which he said stemmed from the actions of an employee who no longer worked for him.

Labelling issues had now been addressed and he had stopped vegetable sales.