A STUD farm boss has gone on trial accused of being a key player in a massive £6 million illegal veterinary medicine scam, said to be the biggest of its kind in Europe.

Richard Jones, aged 60, the boss of Henry Field Stud in Naunton Beauchamp, near Pershore, has pleaded not guilty to the illegal importation of medicines from France and unlawfully distribution of them in the UK.

Jones, of Winchcombe Road, Sedgeberrow, near Evesham, is on trial at Croydon Crown Court.

Prosecutor Andrew Marshall said: “This is part of a massive case concerning the illegal importation and sale of unauthorised veterinary medicines and some prescription-only medicines. This case is the most serious attack on the UK veterinary system. When the warehouse in France was discovered, it was the biggest seizure in Europe of veterinary medicine.

“This is a highly-regulated area because there can be a great deal of damage done to animals from the misuse of medication.”

Nine defendants have already pleaded guilty to various charges on the 100-count indictment and will be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial of Jones and his co-accused, Peter Lock, 53, of Warren Lane, Doddinghurst, Brentwood.

Jones’ partner June Connelly, 68, who Defra said ran the stud farm alongside the defendant, is on bail awaiting sentence.

The Defra prosecution alleges the defendants imported the illegal medicines from ringleaders based in France and unlawfully distributed them in the UK.

Jones is accused of buying £61,000 worth of veterinary medicines from January 2004 and Lock is accused of buying £155,000 of veterinary medicines between January 2004 and September 2008.

Ronald Meddes, 72, and Regine Lansley, 61, were the bosses of France-based Eurovet and sold the medicines – many of which originated in Australia and India.

Mr Marshall said: “All these products go through the black market. They are being distributed by people not licensed to do it, so others can administer them to animals who are not authorised to do so.

“The food chain is placed at risk. These animals and their welfare are being placed at risk.”

The court was told that Meddes and Lansley operated a series of companies under the Eurovet banner and when veterinary medicines that covered 130 cubic metres were seized, they restarted the operation from Belgium.

Jones and Lock have pleaded not guilty to a combined total of 34 charges of illegally importing and distributing unauthorised or prescription-only veterinary medicines.

The trial continues.