Arrested after high-value cheese theft

A 63-year-old man has been arrested after hundreds of truckloads of cheddar worth more than £300,000 were stolen from London cheese specialist Neal’s Yard Dairy.

On October 21, police received a report of theft from the Southwark-based manufacturer.

The man was taken to a south London police station for questioning.

He was released on bail pending ongoing investigations.

Fraudsters posing as legitimate wholesalers took 950 cloth-covered cheeses from the Southwark-based company before they were discovered to be a fake.

More than 22 tons of three specially made cheddar (Hafod Welsh, Westcombe and Pitchfork), all of which were prized and had high monetary value, were seized.

Neal’s Yard Dairy sells Hafod Welsh for £12.90 for a 300g piece, while Westcombe has it for £7.15 for a 250g piece and Pitchfork has it for £11 for a 250g piece.

Neal’s Yard said it still pays cheesemakers so individual dairies don’t have to cover the costs.

A spokesman said the company was currently trying to cope with the financial disruption.