Big wine + flat screen TVs seizure – Kent Police raid warehouses in Horsmonden and Brenchley

Report from Kent Police on an alleged large distribution fraud – wine and flat screen TVs:
   

Policing news

Goods recovered in fraud investigation fill four lorries

24 Jul 2017

Items including tens of thousands of bottles of wine and the latest flat screen televisions have been seized by Kent Police following search warrants at warehouses in Horsmonden and Brenchley.

Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit have also recovered commodities including shipments of marble tiles and even air conditioning units, as part of an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to defraud a number of foreign businesses.

Fraudulent orders
It is reported that fraudulent orders have been made to at least 20 companies, based outside of the UK. 

Victims have complained although goods have been dispatched no payments have been received.

On Thursday 20 July 2017 search warrants were executed by Kent Police at two locations; a warehouse in Goudhurst Road, Horsmonden and a second premises in Tibbs Court Lane, Brenchley. 

Arrest
In total police have seized 217 pallets of goods, filling four HGV lorries. A process to identify items recovered from these storage areas is ongoing. 

A 26-year-old man from Horsmonden has been arrested in connection with the investigation and has been bailed, pending further enquiries, until 17 August.

Significant scale

Detective Inspector Annie Clayton said:  ‘We have received multiple complaints from victims who have alleged they have lost goods due to fraud and that these goods were delivered to storage facilities in west Kent; which have now been searched. 

‘This is a complex investigation, which is being assisted by our partners at Interpol and the Metropolitan Police and which has so far resulted in the recovery of vast amounts of property we believe has been obtained by fraudulent means. The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate is committed to tackling those who facilitate organised crime in Kent and we are investigating allegations, which are on a very significant scale.’

 

A partially wasted journey to Inverness....

Peter Goldsmith's van

The original photo 

Peter Goldsmith's van

Exposure adjusted

I caught the 7.18 Caledonian Sleeper from Kingussie to Inverness this morning. As the overnight train nears its final destination – Inverness – it takes on day passengers. 

Why you might wonder?

I was due to give evidence from the Sheriff Court in Inverness via video link in a case at Maidstone Magistrates Court. This case arose from a unwanted intrusion to our family celebrations on Boxing Day. Two noisy drunks in a van came into a private drive, hit a car and then left. As they left I took the photo above. It turned out later that the driver was a Peter Goldsmith. 

They didn't get very far as they drove down a twisting narrow lane they managed to get stuck – where they remained until the police arrived. 

Charged by the police Peter Goldsmith decided to plead not guilty hence my journey to Inverness this morning to give evidence via video link. 

It turned out that the video link would not be direct rather the Scottish Court System providing the relay between Inverness and Maidstone. 

In the event I didn't need to give my evidence as Goldsmith decided this morning to change his plea to guilty. Apparently when he had been interviewed by the police he told them that he couldn't remember anything and that they would have to prove it. Obviously he had a change of heart......         

From Kent Police 

'I am writing to update you on the outcome of today’s hearing and to advise you that following a guilty plea, Peter GOLDSMITH was sentenced today in connection with the offence of Excess Breath Alcohol and Failing to Stop and Report a Road Traffic Collision as follows:

 

12 Month Community Order.  This means the offender will have to attend appointments with a probation officer and carry out any instructions as part of that order including 150 hours of unpaid work in the community and a 20 day Rehabilitation Activity programme. He is also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 30 months. The offender was also ordered to pay a £50 fine as well as court costs.

 

Please note that this sentence includes other matters also sentenced on the same day.'