Dougies Meats boss: ‘Facebook insults were posted by jealous former staff member’

Yesterday we reported how the firm’s Facebook page branded one man a “sad b*** **d” as well as a “gossiping t**t” – and speculated that he had a “small c**k”.

They also urged a woman to “f**k off” and told her: “Have sex or watch a funny film. Get a life. Stop commenting on stuff that does not concern you.”

The shock insults were made after members of the public commented on the company being ordered to pay £1,000 for the destruction of three quarters of a tonne of its meat which was either past its use-by date or the use-by dates had been removed.

Glenn Kitchen, director of Dougies Meats, today said: “We’re completely innocent in this.

“We’ve got a number of former employees who have access to our Facebook page and those insults were posted by a jealous ex-worker.

“I was absolutely horrified to see the comments.

“I’d never speak to people like that.”

Mr Kitchen said the former employees no longer have access to Dougies Meats’ Facebook page.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard the condemned meat was seized by Environmental Health officers during an inspection of the firm’s base at Nevada Park Farm in Killamarsh at the start of October.

That inspection also found that no suitable food safety management systems were in place to ensure that the meat was safe for human consumption.

The company operates from large vans selling raw meat at various markets, pub car parks and shop car parks in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.

It also operates a delivery service.

Bolsover and North East Derbyshire District councils took the firm to court.

Councillor Brian Murray-Carr, Bolsover District Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “The public needs to be confident that they are buying good-quality produce that is safe to eat.

“That’s why our regular food safety inspections of business premises are vitally important so issues such as this can be brought to light and dealt with.

“In this case the food was quickly removed from the food chain so as to protect consumers.”

Coun Michael Gordon, North East Derbyshire District Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, added: “To have inadequate safety procedures in place and sell out-of-date produce is wholly irresponsible.

“It seems this company only has profit in mind and a total disregard for the public’s safety – something which the magistrates agreed with and is reflected in the outcome of the court case.”

A number of people have backed the company amid the condemned meat scandal.

Commenting on Facebook, one customer wrote: “I have bought from you for years and will continue.”

Another said: “I wouldn’t go to anyone else. Top-quality meat every time.”

And another commented: “I’ve never had anything bad from Dougies Meats.”

Mr Kitchen said he was working with trading standards officers to improve standards.

In 2011, the firm was prosecuted for failing to keep records of how rubbish was disposed.