Man arrested after 22 tonnes of high-end cheddar stolen from cheesemaker

Detectives investigating the theft of more than €350,000 worth of high-end cheddar cheese have arrested a man on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods.

London cheese specialist Neal’s Yard Dairy delivered 22 tonnes of cheddar last week after being approached by a fraudulent buyer posing as a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer.

The company - which sells top-quality British and Irish cheeses to stores and restaurants around the world - said they only discovered the person's identity was fake after the total of 950 wheels of cheeses were delivered.

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The three types of artisan cheeses stolen were Hafod Welsh Organic Cheddar, Westcombe Cheddar, and Pitchfork. Neal's Yard Dairy sells Hafod Welsh for £12.90 (€15.28) for a 300g piece, while Westcombe costs £7.15 (€8.47) for 250g and Pitchfork is priced at £11 (€13) for 250g. Between them, these cheeses have won numerous awards and are amongst the most sought-after artisan cheeses in the UK.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said on Thursday that investigating officers arrested a man on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods. The 63-year-old man was later taken to a south London police station where he was questioned. The spokesperson added: “He has since been bailed pending further inquiries. Inquiries remain ongoing.”

Despite what it described as a "significant financial blow", Neal’s Yard Dairy said it still paid the producers of the cheese so the individual dairies would not have to bear the costs. The company said in an Instagram post: “To everyone who has rallied to support us in the last few days — thank you.

“Since sharing the news of our theft, we have received an overwhelming number of calls, messages, and visits. We are truly touched that so many people in the artisan cheese community and beyond are standing with us. It’s a reminder of why we love the work we do.

“Many of you have asked how you can help. To that, we say: continue to support British and Irish cheese. Hafod, Pitchfork, and Westcombe are special examples of farmhouse Cheddar. Eat them. Celebrate them. We will be here, championing British and Irish cheese, for a long time to come.”

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