Neal’s Yard, a London-based, artisan cheese retailer and distributor, said it delivered more than 950 wheels of cheddar - some produced in Somerset - to an alleged fraudster posing as a wholesale distributor for a major French retailer before realising what had happened. Westcombe Dairy in Westcombe, near Shepton Mallet, and Trethowan’s Dairy in Weston-super-Mare were two of the three cheese producers affected. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "On Monday October 21, police received a report of the theft of a large quantity of cheese from a manufacturer based in Southwark.
“Investigating officers have since arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling Stolen Goods. “The man was taken to a south London police station where he was questioned. He has since been bailed pending further inquiries.
Inquiries remain ongoing.” Neal’s Yard said it still paid Somerset cheese producers Westcombe and Pitchfork, and Hafod in Ceredigion, West Wales, so they would not have to bear the cost “despite the significant financial blow”. The company called out to cheesemongers around the world to contact them if they suspect they have been offered or sold the stolen cheese, particularly clothbound cheddars in a 10kg or 24kg format with the tags detached.
Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy in Westcombe, Somerset, produced some of the stolen cheese and said he was “hugely distressed” when he heard the news. Mr Calver, 42, said: “.