Asda 'blackmail plot' shock

Two West Midland Asda stores were at the centre of an alleged attempted blackmail plot, police said today.

The Asda supermarket in Wednesbury Oak Road, Tipton and in Queslett Road, Great Barr, are at the centre of the allegations.

The alleged blackmail attempt has been under investigation by detectives from West Midlands Police Serious and Organised Crime Unit, who arrested a man in Bilston on Tuesday.

John Bottwood, 49, of Lees Terrace, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court today charged with two counts of blackmail, one count of contamination of goods with intent to provoke anxiety or public alarm, and one count of claiming to contaminate food with the intent of causing anxiety or public alarm.

He is accused of making an unwarranted demand with menaces for £2,000 from Asda, Tipton, between December 2000 and February 2001.

He is accused of the same charge between January 2008 and April 2008 for £15,000 from Asda, Great Barr. He is accused of contaminating a pepper and cartons of cream and yoghurt at the Tipton store, and claiming to have injected fruit at the Great Barr supermarket with intent to cause public alarm. Bottwood was remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on November 5.

Leah Watson, spokeswoman for Asda, confirmed that store bosses have been working with West Midlands Police as part of the investigation.

The Serious and Organised Crime Unit, which investigated the plot. It works to tackle organised crime groups, street gangs, drug and gun trafficking and kidnaps and crimes in action.