Aldi cleared on burn charge after mix-up

A court case against a supermarket chain accused of selling an unsafe cooking set which left a 13-year-old boy with burns has been thrown out on a technicality.

Aldi appeared before West Bromwich Magistrates charged with selling a non-stick outdoor cooking set which caused burns to two children.

The firm was also accused of failing to take reasonable steps to notify customers about potential dangers with the set, but the case was dismissed because Sandwell Council got the company name wrong on the charge sheet.

It was revealed that the company before the court should have been Aldi Stores Ltd instead of Aldi Ltd, which is now said to be dormant.

The mix-up occurred after trading standards officers approached Companies House to check information provided by the defendant.

The court heard that on May 27, 2007, Gavin Farley boiled water in the cooking set on a camping trip after purchasing it at Aldi, in Birmingham Road, Great Barr.

Part of the handle melted, causing the pan to fall, and his sons Cameron, aged 13, and Elliot, 11, were scalded.

Chairman of the bench, David Reid said: "The case against Aldi Ltd is dismissed. The original letter which served the case in August clearly stated Aldi Stores Ltd. This should have been picked up."

Jonathon Challinor, prosecuting for Sandwell Council, said: "There has been a misunderstanding as this company should not be in court.

"It should have been Aldi Stores Ltd. I apologise."

Fred Philpot, for Aldi Ltd, said: "It is the wrong company and therefore I offer no further evidence.

"There should be no blame attached to anyone for anything."

The 12-month expiry date for the case has now passed.

Speaking after the hearing, Sandwell Council's deputy manager of trading standards, Bob Charnley, said: "I am confident that we acted correctly on the information provided by the defendant.

"We are disappointed that nobody has been held to account for the sale of a product which led to serious injury."