Man admits running illegal whisky distillery

A Shropshire man has admitted operating an illegal whisky distillery.

David Cox, 51, pleaded guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Monday, to evading more than £500,000 in excise duty by operating the illegal distillery producing moonshine whisky.

Cox, from Alveley, was arrested on 21 January this year after officers raided remote farm buildings near Bridgnorth.

Officers found three illegal stills on the premises, along with 35,000 litres of fermenting liquor, a bottling machine, empty bottles and pre-printed labels.

There was also 1,500 litres of distilled whisky, some already bottled and boxed as Highland Game whisky.

Malcolm Niblo, Customs Assistant Chief Investigation Officer, said the case involved "illicit distillation on a grand scale".

"By putting a stop to David Cox's activities we have not only prevented him from stealing vast sums from the public purse but we have also protected the public from large quantities of potentially dangerous whisky," he said.