THE case against a nurse who blackmailed supermarket giant Tesco by threatening to infect food with Aids-contaminated blood was dramatically adjourned yesterday.

Franco Riolfo, aged 58, formerly of Newtown Bridge, Tenbury Wells, and now living in Cornwall, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in October 1995 after police caught him red-handed.

He was yesterday due to hear his fate at the hands of the Nursing and Midwifery Council when it was adjourned due to "undisclosed developments."

"These developments are highly relevant to the issues being discussed today," said Katrina Wingfield, speaking for the council.

"They cannot be resolved today to our satisfaction and in my submission it is inappropriate to go into further details."

The application was supported by Paul Rogers, the barrister representing Riolfo.

Described as an "ingenious idea" by Det Insp Graham Foot, Riolfo withdrew £7,100 between March and April 1995 from cash machines using a Tesco clubcard to access the Barclays account he forced Tesco to set up.

At the time of his conviction, he was not practising as a nurse and had let his registration lapse because he was running his own business and was working as a medical representative.

He was eventually arrested while withdrawing £200 from a cash machine in Slough while using his clubcard. His sentence was reduced to six years on appeal.

The case has been adjourned until Friday, June 25.