US EditionAffordable Luxury Is Big Business, but Its Fakes Are Piling Up in Landfills
- Thomas Robinson, also known as Tam O'Braan, was jailed in 2025 for a £553,000 fraud selling falsely labeled 'Scottish-grown tea' to luxury clients across Scotland and beyond.
- Robinson deceived twelve authentic Scottish tea growers as well as a grower in Jersey by selling them 22,000 imported plants at £12.50 each, falsely claiming they were locally cultivated and inventing qualifications to support his claims.
- He sold repackaged foreign tea at inflated prices to high-profile clients including the Balmoral and Dorchester Hotels and Fortnum & Mason, damaging the reputation of Scotland’s tea industry.
- Sheriff Keith O'Mahony noted the fraud involved “significant and persistent planning,” while Robinson apologized, acknowledging hubris and expressing deep regret for the harm caused.
- The case highlights the challenges of food fraud and emphasizes the need for transparency and stronger authentication amid growing counterfeit culture affecting both luxury and accessible goods.
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An entrepreneur said he had found a method to grow it and sold it to luxury hotels throughout the UK: he was convicted of fraud
·Italy
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The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)Scam in a teacup: The fraudster who conned luxury brands into buying ‘Scottish tea’
A company acting on behalf of Fortnum & Mason was among those tricked by Thomas Robinson
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources16
Leaning Left9Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Left
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- 64% of the sources lean Left
64% Left
L 64%
C 36%
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