Pedigree Petfoods and Heinz extortion campaign

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The Pedigree Chum dog food and Heinz extortion campaign was an attempted extortion against Pedigree Petfoods and Heinz, during which an extortionist contaminated tins of dog and baby food. Pedigree was advised by police to pay limited sums of money to the extortionist, while cash machines were put under surveillance. Heinz lost millions in sales and eventually offered a £100,000 reward, which the extortionist attempted to collect. However, he was arrested at the cashpoint, where police discovered the extortionist was former Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant Rodney Whitchelo.

Whitchelo was found guilty on six counts of blackmail, two counts each of contaminating food products and attempting to obtain property by deception, as well as one count of making a threat to kill, and was sentenced to 17-years imprisonment.