Man in his 60s arrested over theft of 950 wheels of cheese from Neal’s Yard

A man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing more 900 wheels of cheese from a dairy shop in London.

Detectives investigating the theft of 22 tonnes of cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy have arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods.

Neal’s Yard Dairy said it delivered more than 950 wheels of it to the fraudsters, who claimed they were a wholesale distributor for a major French retailer.

It was only afterwards they realised the whole thing was a scam.

The firm said it would still pay the three small-scale producers, Hafod, Westcombe and Pitchfork, who made the cheese, ‘despite the significant financial blow’ Neal’s Yard Dairy would incur as a result.

Jamie Oliver posted about the theft on his Instagram page, writing: ‘In a shocking turn of events, Neal’s Yard Dairy has fallen victim to a brazen heist of epic proportions.

‘A staggering 22 tonnes of premium cheddar, worth £300,000, have vanished, leaving the cheese world reeling.’