A BREWERY director who plotted to contaminate the products of a rival company has been jailed.

Michael Hancocks planned to pour yeast-based contaminants into the production line of HP Bulmer, one of the country's best-known cider companies.

Hancocks' firm, Birmingham's Aston Manor Brewery, was in direct competition with Bulmer in the cider market.

Jailing 64-year-old Hancocks for 18 months at Bristol Crown Court yesterday, Judge John Foley said he believed prison was the only punishment.

Hancocks, of Hafod Road, Hereford, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud Hereford-based Bulmer by introducing yeast-based contaminants into their products between August 31, 2001 and April 5, 2002.

The prosecution case was that Hancocks wanted to create problems at Bulmer - which makes Woodpecker, Strongbow and Scrumpy Jack - allowing his company to enjoy a commercial advantage.

But Hancocks said his plan was not to cause economic loss, that the substance would not have caused the public discomfort and that he expected it to be detected by Bulmer workers.

Job losses

At a previous hearing, Victor Temple QC told the judge that Hancocks was a major shareholder in Aston Manor, which makes Frosty Jack cider, but at the time profits were falling and job losses were feared.

To produce yeasts that could cause spoilage, Hancocks recruited chemist and former Aston Manor employee Richard Gay, Mr Temple said.

He also used his daughter's ex-partner, Paul Harris, to transport the material and recruit a Bulmer's employee with access to the production line.

A forklift driver was promised £16,000 for putting contaminants in the line but instead revealed the plot to Bulmer and police, and a surveillance operation was mounted.

Gay, 51, of Weston Lane, Tyseley, Birmingham, had previously pleaded guilty to possessing materials with a view to the commission of an offence, and sentence on him was adjourned until today.

The court was told that Gay thought the yeasts were to be used for research at Hancocks' own firm.

Harris, 41, of Harpersfield, Kings Caple, Hereford, was jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to contaminate the products of HP Bulmer with intent to cause economic loss.