A forklift driver played a major part in unravelling a brewery contamination plot that could have caused widespread sickness in the United Kingdom.

Russell Jordan, a forklift operator with Bulmer's, a famous cider brewing company, blew the whistle after he was offered GBP16,000 (USD25,300) by Michael Hancocks, a major shareholder in rival Aston Manor Brewery, to contaminate Bulmer's product between August 31, 2001, and April 5, 2002.

Mr Hancocks was the "instigator and prime mover" in the plan, Bristol Crown Court was told. He blamed Bulmer's for his firm's business problems and wanted "to teach them a lesson", a Birmingham Post report said.

He used his daughter's partner Paul Harris, chemist Richard Gay and Mr Jordan to try to disperse three lots of yeast-based contaminant into the Bulmer's line, but the plan was foiled when Mr Jordan told his employers and police.

Messrs Hancocks, Gay and Harris are expected to be sentenced on May 1 after pleading guilty in previous hearings.