A 63-year-old man has been arrested by the Metropolitan Police in connection with the theft of 22 tonnes of high-end cheddar cheese, worth over £300,000, from a dairy in London.
The suspect was detained on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods.
The stolen cheese belonged to Neal’s Yard Dairy in Southwark, which reported the incident after delivering 950 wheels of cheddar to someone posing as a wholesale distributor for a prominent French retailer. Despite fulfilling the large order, the dairy never received payment.
Patrick Holden, the owner of Holden Farm Dairy, shared that 2.5 tonnes of his Hafod Welsh cheddar, produced using a century-old recipe from his 90-strong herd, was part of the stock taken. He expressed his shock, noting, "It was the biggest order we ever had... It was the most we could spare."
The incident gained attention when celebrity chef Jamie Oliver posted on Instagram, urging followers to be alert. He called the theft “a real shame” and joked that if anyone comes across “posh cheese going for cheap,” it’s likely related to the crime.
In response to the support received, Neal’s Yard Dairy thanked the community in an Instagram message, expressing gratitude for the solidarity shown. The dairy encouraged continued support of British and Irish cheese and highlighted the importance of celebrating local products like Hafod, Pitchfork, and Westcombe farmhouse cheddars.
The dairy also reached out to cheesemongers worldwide, asking them to report any suspicious offers of cheese, specifically clothbound cheddars in 10kg or 24kg formats without tags. The suspect has been released on bail as investigations continue. Photo by Jon Sullivan, Wikimedia commons.