Latest news with #Scottish-grown
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Probe leads to conviction of Scottish tea fraudster
The investigation by FSS uncovered that Robinson's misrepresentations led to financial losses totalling £584,738 for his clients. Robinson, also known as Tam O'Braan and Thomas O'Brien, was found guilty by jury at Falkirk Sherriff Court following an extensive investigation by FSS. He will be sentenced at a later date. Between January 2014 and February 2019, Robinson operated under the business name "The Wee Tea Plantation", asserting that he cultivated Camellia Sinensis tea plants at his Perthshire estate. He marketed this tea as authentically Scottish-grown and sold to high-profile clients in the hospitality sector, but in reality, the tea was sourced from wholesalers outside Scotland. Robinson further bolstered his fraudulent claims by alleging he had developed innovative techniques for cultivating tea in Scotland's climate. He also fabricated academic qualifications and industry awards to lend credibility to his story. Ron McNaughton, Head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU) at FSS, commented: "This was a highly complex and protracted investigation which required a significant amount of time, expertise and coordination across our team and with partner agencies. Fraud of this nature is often difficult to detect and even harder to prove, but we were determined to pursue every line of enquiry to build the strongest possible case. 'This was not a victimless crime — individuals, businesses, and an emerging sector of genuine Scottish tea growers suffered real financial and reputational harm as a result of deliberate deception. I would like to thank the witnesses who came forward and supported the investigation; their cooperation was essential to achieving this outcome. 'It's a strong example of how partnership working and the dedication and skill of our investigative teams make it increasingly difficult for those committing food fraud to go undetected. We remain committed to protecting Scotland's food and drink sector from criminal activity and maintaining consumer trust."
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Daily Record
Scottish Del Boy's tea scam conned luxury clients out of £550k
Thomas Robinson supplied Edinburgh's Balmoral and other big hotels with 'authentically Scottish' single-estate tea. A conman was behind bars last night for a £550,000 fraud in which he sold luxury 'Scottish-grown' tea to posh hotels – that he'd bought from overseas. Thomas Robinson supplied Edinburgh's Balmoral and other big hotels with 'authentically Scottish' single-estate tea from his Wee Tea Plantation. The chancer even claimed tea he supplied to five-star The Dorchester in London was 'the Queen's favourite'. The reality was not unlike Del Boy Trotter's Peck-ham Spring scam in the TV comedy Only Fools and Horses, where Del fills bottles with water from his kitchen tap to sell on – at a considerable profit. Robinson, 55, rented a former sheep farm in Perthshire where he planted tea plants for show then imported more than a ton of tea from overseas and repacked it. One expert said a kilo of quality tea from Africa could be sold for 100 times what it cost if it was passed off as being grown in Scotland. The scale of Robinson's lies was laid bare in a three-and-a-half-week long case at Falkirk Sheriff Court. He was found guilty of defrauding tea growers of £274,354 and the hotels and tea companies of £278,634 – a total of nearly £553,000 – between January 2014 and February 2019. Robinson denied the crimes, claiming paperwork for his defence had been destroyed in a flood and his electronic records had been lost. The conman, also known as Tom O'Braan, bought tea plants from a nursery in Sussex called Plants4Presents. He carried out his scam by showing tea plants to buyers such as those acting for Fortnum and Mason of London, where the wealthiest in society like to shop. Other victims who bought the Wee Tea Plantation's supposedly single-estate Scottish-grown tea products included France's oldest tea house, Mariage Frères. He claimed to have found a way of making his tea grow in half the usual time at the former kitchen garden at Dalreoch Farm, at Amulree in Perthshire, using a 'special biodegradable poly-mer' which the prosecution said looked like a black bin liner. He claimed to have given a presentation on his methods to the Royal Horticultural Society. The tea menu at the Balmoral Hotel's Palm Court, based on descriptions Robinson gave them, boasted: 'Our Scottish grown teas come from gardens in our farming heartlands in Perthshire and Dumfries and Galloway.' The teas had names including Dalreoch White, Silver Needles, Scottish Antlers Tea, and Highland Green. Robinson spun customers lies that his company had sold tea to Kensington Palace and that he was a former rugby star and multi-millionaire. He also claimed to be a polymer scientist, had invented the 'Bag For Life', served in the Army in bomb dis-posal and worked for ex-US president Barack Obama's administration on a maize project. Prosecutors described this as 'the CV of a fantasist'. The court heard Robinson disguised that he was repackaging foreign tea and selling it on by getting it delivered to a mailbox address in Glasgow registered to a company called 'Thomas James Consultants'. He also paid through a joint personal bank account, not the business account of The Wee Tea Plantation. Robinson managed to sow success stories in the Press. He appeared on a BBC podcast, telling presenter Mark Stephen he had learned to quickly grow tea plants by restricting UV light. An expert later said this would kill them. Robinson also claimed to have produced tea plants at his farm from cuttings and seed. Between 2015 and 2018 he supplied 22,000 plants to a dozen other growers in Scotland and one in Jersey at £12.50 each. The jury heard that over the period he was actually importing tea plants at €3 each from a horticulturalist in Italy. He either passed them off as Scottish-grown or allowed his customers to assume they were. Many died or did not thrive, and yields were a fraction of what Robinson's customers expected. One grower, Henry Baggott, 45, an antique dealer, who bought thousands of plants for his wife's family farm near Castle Douglas, said Robinson had told him he could expect to be picking his first tea at the end of a year. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He promised an eventual yield of 100 kilos (220lb) of top-quality tea plus 450kg (992lb) of secondary leaf for blends. After battling for seven years, the Baggotts finally managed to harvest just 100g (less than 4oz) of finished tea. Robinson claimed that with the exception of 15,000 plants sold to a grower in Jersey, all the Italian plants had been in Scottish ground for a period and that made them Scottish. The scam began to unravel in 2017 after Perth and Kinross Council tried to locate Robinson's food processing licence. When a Scottish Government adviser asked about plant passports, he insisted all the plants were for his own use, then tried to cover up by sending a story to the local Press claiming thousands of his plants had been stolen. Prosecutor Joanne Ritchie said Robinson formed 'a scheme to deceive and make money on the basis of lies'. She said: 'When you look at what he was actually doing, the suggestion that this was genuine Scottish tea or these were Scottish-grown plants is almost laughable. 'He lied to every single witness who encountered him, but more than that he lied to the population at large, to the people who had been buying this tea on the understanding it was Scottish.' Robinson, of Amulree, Perthshire, insisted he had done no wrong. He told the jury: 'I wanted to leave something that would stand in the history of tea.' He shook his head when the verdicts were announced. Sheriff Keith O'Mahony deferred sentence for reports until June 25 and remanded Robinson in custody. He told him: 'There will be significant sentencing consequences for you.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Man who sold ordinary tea as unique Scottish variety found guilty of fraud
A man who passed off ordinary tea as a unique, Scottish-grown variety and sold it to luxury hotels and retailers has been found guilty of fraud. Thomas Robinson, 52, claimed to have cultivated the tea at his Perthshire estate using innovative techniques, but in reality it was sourced from wholesalers outside Scotland. Operating under the business name The Wee Tea Plantation, Robinson fraudulently sold the tea to high-profile clients in the hospitality sector between January 2014 and February 2019. In addition, Robinson, who is also known as Tam O'Braan and Thomas O'Brien, misled genuine Scottish tea growers by selling them plants under the false pretence they were a unique, locally-grown variety. Thomas Robinson was found guilty of fraud totalling nearly £600,000 following an investigation by the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit. He defrauded luxury hotels and retailers by falsely claiming to supply premium tea grown in Scotland. Read more at — Food Standards Scotland (@FSScot) May 29, 2025 He also bolstered his credibility by fabricating academic qualifications and industry awards. An investigation by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) found Robinson's misrepresentations led to his clients losing a total of £584,783. Robinson was found guilty of two counts of fraud by a jury at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday. Ron McNaughton, head of Scottish food crime and incidents unit at FSS, welcomed the verdict. 'This was not a victimless crime – individuals, businesses, and an emerging sector of genuine Scottish tea growers suffered real financial and reputational harm as a result of deliberate deception. 'I would like to thank the witnesses who came forward and supported the investigation – their co-operation was essential to achieving this outcome. 'It's a strong example of how partnership working and the dedication and skill of our investigative teams make it increasingly difficult for those committing food fraud to go undetected. 'We remain committed to protecting Scotland's food and drink sector from criminal activity and maintaining consumer trust.' He added that the FSS investigation had been 'highly complex and protracted', requiring co-ordination with 'partner agencies'. He continued: 'Fraud of this nature is often difficult to detect and even harder to prove, but we were determined to pursue every line of inquiry to build the strongest possible case.' Robinson is due to be sentenced at Stirling Sheriff Court on June 25.
Edinburgh Live
17-05-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Live
James Martin's favourite Scottish snack boosts gut and heart health after three stone weight loss
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Chef James Martin swears by a Scottish snack that helps boost gut and heart health after shedding three stone. The 52-year-old dropped from 17st to 14st when he took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2005. He says his love of sports cars also spurred his decision to slim, admitting he struggled to get out of his favourite rides. Since shedding the pounds, James has made a number of changes and tweaks to his lifestyle. He likes to keep active by walking his dogs and manages his diet. James named one Scottish-grown fruit as one of his favourite foods to snack on. In an interview with the Scotsman , he praised Scotland's larders. When asked about his favourite Scottish foods, he said: 'Blackthorn salt, langoustines, beef, got the best larder in the world here so I am spoiled for choice here.' (Image: Getty Images) The overwhelming majority of raspberries available in the United Kingdom are grown in Scotland. The longer and cooler summer days are said to help produce more delicious berries than south of the border. The autumn-fruiting raspberries of Scotland can be harvested right through to first-frost as well, making them an enduring crop. As a food they are a good source of vitamins C, E, and K, as well as manganese, fibre. They also offer a low-calorie option, with one cup of raspberries containing just 64 calories. Theresa Gentile, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told that raspberries are the 'the highest whole-food source of fibre'. Fibre helps to lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer. "It's good for the digestive tract to get everything moving," Theresa says. (Image: ITV) A study from King's College of London found that eating red raspberries improves the function of the cells that line blood vessels. The research suggested they could help lower the risks of developing cardiovascular - heart and blood - diseases. Researcher Dr Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, said: 'Although more studies are needed to confirm our findings, we are very excited about the potential role of raspberries and ellagitannins in cardiovascular disease prevention.' As well as enjoying raspberries, celebrity chef James has increased the amount of fish he eats since losing weight. He also announced previously that he had cut fizzy drinks out of his diet. And while he has a gym in his Hampshire home, James likes to pound the pavement with his pet pooches instead of pumping iron. Speaking to Best magazine, he said: 'I have a gym upstairs,but I haven't used it though. I do about 20 to 30,000 steps a day walking my dogs.' The NHS says a brisk 10 to 15 minute walk each day counts towards an adult's recommended 150 minutes of exercise. It says walking is a "sometimes overlooked" form of exercise that can help build stamina and burn calories while promoting heart health. The chef will be returning with James Martin's Saturday Morning at 9.30am on ITV One. James will be joined by Charley Boorman from Long Way as chefs Asma Khan, Ronnie Murray, and Mike Reid provide food.
The Herald Scotland
16-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's most gorgeous farm shops - with superb walks nearby
This stretch of the Clyde Valley is slightly quieter than the busy hub around Rosebank, with Overton Farm Shop a smashing spot to while away an hour or two. It has built a stellar reputation for the incredible selection of Scottish-grown fruit and vegetables (in the past I've enjoyed everything from Hawick tomatoes to Ayrshire tatties), as well as yummy jams and chutneys, meats and savoury pastries. The Oven serves hearty breakfasts, soups and sandwiches, fish and chips, mince and tatties, baked potatoes, lasagne and steak pie – not to forget delectable home baking. There is also the option of a takeaway from The Grill, which has outdoor seating. There are some brilliant strolls in the surrounding area, be it a gentle meander along a section of the Clyde Walkway or pottering around the trails at Mauldslie Woods or Nethan Gorge. Barnhill Farm, near Inchinnan, Renfrewshire This working farm has a shop, cafe and butchery, with a strong focus on sustainability and a field-to-fork ethos. We're talking bread and cakes, milk, eggs and baskets brimming with seasonal wares. There is a deli counter selling Scottish cheeses. You can also stock up on everything from pies to breakfast packs. The family-friendly venue has a clutch of attractions aimed at youngsters, including a soft play area on a double-decker bus, outdoor sandpit and pedal go-karts. There is a farm adventure trail that makes for a lovely amble. Pick up a bag of feed and head off to meet the resident cows, Clydesdale horses, Pygmy goats, Hebridean sheep and Mangalitza pigs – this lively menagerie is also partial to carrots and turnips, available from the shop. Read more Susan Swarbrick Tombreck Farm Shop, near Lawers, Perthshire Situated on the north bank of Loch Tay, Tombreck Farm extends several hundred metres up the side of Ben Lawers, which should give a clue to its rugged topography. The farm shop – which operates an honesty box system – is part of a community-run project and sells organic vegetables, many grown locally, alongside free-range bacon and pork, lamb and occasionally wild venison. If climbing Scotland's tenth highest Munro – the mighty Ben Lawers rising to 3,983ft (1,214m) – feels a tall order, there are plenty of picturesque, lower-level paths to explore, such as the Edramucky Trail, a mile (1.75km) loop with an ascent of 360ft (110m). Another gem is The Kiltyrie Hidden History Trail, a mile-long (1.75km) route providing fascinating insight into the landscapes and the people who have inhabited them over the centuries. The Buffalo Farm, Boglily Steading, near Kirkcaldy, Fife In the spring of 2005, Steve Mitchell – a sixth-generation farmer – introduced water buffalo to Clentrie Farm in Fife. Their number has since grown to more than 500-strong, the largest herd of its kind in Scotland. As the name suggests, these horned, ox-like ruminants remain at its heart, with bespoke meat and dairy products available to buy from the farm shop at Boglily Steading, including ice cream and assorted cheeses, such as buffalo mozzarella and halloumi-style Buffalloumi. Its dual eateries, The Bothy and The Milk Bar & Grill, provide the opportunity to sample the excellent produce that hails from the farm. There are great walks in the vicinity, including Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy, with its formal gardens and pretty boating pond, or the Long Braes Plantation Circular, which winds its way through 3.3 miles (5.3km) of tree-lined paths. Mannerstons, near Linlithgow, West Lothian Run by the Faulds family on their smallholding property, Mannerstons is home to a farm shop, bakery, deli and cafe that offers delicious, locally sourced cuisine. Highlights include top-notch French toast, artisan hot dogs and burgers, macaroni cheese and sandwiches loaded with scrumptious fillings such as bacon, brie and chilli jam or mature cheddar, Stornoway black pudding and red onion. Then there is the sublime fisherman's platter, which comes with smoked mackerel and beetroot pate, lime mayo prawns and salmon. Mannerstons is a mere five-minute drive from one of my all-time favourite daunders: the dreamy, coastal-adjacent Wester Shore Wood, located between Blackness and Abercorn. Susan Swarbrick is a columnist and freelance writer who loves history and the outdoors. Follow her on X @SusanSwarbrick and Bluesky @
