Farmer under fire for trading with death
A farmer, who has a sideline selling gallows to Third World countries, has been condemned by Amnesty International.
David Lucas, from Holywell Row, near Mildenhall, has been building and selling execution equipment to countries including Zimbabwe and Libya for several years and has defended his trade, which Amnesty has labelled 'appalling'.
Mr Lucas believes the gallows, some of which are portable and can be fixed to lorry trailers, are a deterrent for criminals and would save taxpayers' money if capital punishment was re-introduced in this country.
"The system I make, if it was to come back into use, would make people think twice about committing a crime," he said.
"It would save the taxpayer from footing the 20,000 to 30,000 bill of keeping people like Peter Sutcliffe and Ian Huntley in prison.
"With modern policing and DNA, the chances of making a mistake are zero."
Gallows, made of oak, cost from 12,000 each and a mobile unit, capable of hanging five to six people at a time, costs about 100,000, he said.
Kate Allen, Amnesty International's UK director, said: "It is appalling that a British man is apparently selling gallows to President Mugabe's government.
"There have been gaping loopholes in the regulations concerning execution equipment for years and it makes a mockery of the UK's effort to oppose the death penalty around the world if, right under its nose, a British company is sending hanging equipment abroad."
Neil Durkin, a spokesman for Amnesty, said there was nothing illegal about what Mr Lucas was doing but that a new European Commission law, due to come in to effect on July 31, would make it illegal to export gallows.
Mr Lucas said: "We will go through that when it comes around. We will just have to diversify."
Mr Lucas' normal business is selling animal feed and bedding products.
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