W Stevenson and Son, the Newlyn-based fishing firm which pleaded guilty to a quota scam at Exeter Crown Court in April, has appealed against its conviction.

The family firm, which admitted 37 charges of submitting false sales notes to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the period relating to the spring and autumn of 2002, was expected to be sentenced at Truro Crown Court on June 25 and 26.

However, sentencing is now deferred pending a decision by the Court of Appeal.

The conviction appeal has also deferred sentencing dates of a number of fishing boat owners and skippers who were charged with failing to keep proper records of where fish were caught or proper landing records.

A date for the Court of Appeal has not yet been scheduled in.

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