Fraud conviction in Scottish tea scam

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has welcomed the conviction of a man who made fraudulent claims about tea.

Thomas Robinson, 52, was found guilty on two counts of fraud amounting to nearly £600,000 ($808,300). He will be sentenced at a later date.

Robinson defrauded luxury hotels and retailers by claiming to supply premium tea grown in Scotland. He also misled a small group of genuine Scottish tea growers by selling them plants under the false pretense that they were a unique, Scottish-grown variety.

An investigation by FSS, that began in 2019, found that Robinson’s actions led to financial losses totaling £584,738 ($787,000) for his clients.

Robinson, also known as Tam O’Braan and Thomas O’Brien, was found guilty by jury at Falkirk Sheriff Court.

Not a victimless crime
Between January 2014 and February 2019, Robinson operated under the business name The Wee Tea Plantation, claiming that he cultivated Camellia Sinensis tea plants at his Perthshire estate.

He marketed this tea as authentically Scottish-grown and sold it to clients in the hospitality sector. However, the tea was actually sourced from wholesalers outside Scotland.

Robinson said he had developed innovative techniques for cultivating tea in Scotland’s climate. He also fabricated academic qualifications and industry awards.

Ron McNaughton, head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU) at FSS, said: “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.”

McNaughton said the cooperation of witnesses was essential.

“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.”

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