Kingpin and Crew Jailed for UK’s Biggest Fake Cash Haul
Three men have been locked up after a massive crackdown on one of the UK’s biggest counterfeit currency rings. The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate spearheaded the probe, snagging what’s thought to be the largest face-value seizure of fake notes ever recovered in Britain during a raid at an industrial unit in Beckenham.
Cash Crooks Caught Red-Handed
John Evans, 27, from Esher, Surrey, and Phillip Brown, 54, of Longfield, were sentenced to over 15 years combined at Woolwich Crown Court on 20 January 2021. Evans, a key organiser, bagged 10 years and also admitted trying to pervert the course of justice. Brown received six and a half years after being found printing the fake £20 notes at a Beckenham unit owned by Nick Winter, 58, who had already been sentenced to six years the previous month.
£5.25 Million in Fakes and a Trail of Lies
The police launched their hunt in January 2019 after the Bank of England spotted dodgy new £20 notes printed with high-tech equipment normally used for magazines and leaflets. Months of savvy detective work, including phone snooping, led officers to Winter’s Beckenham premises. Inside, Brown and his accomplice were caught surrounded by printing kit and counterfeit £20 notes worth a staggering £5.25 million.
Brown didn’t try to dodge blame, telling cops, “You have caught me red-handed.” Investigators also found a list at Brown’s home matching the total value of the fake notes, with names including ‘John’ believed to refer to Evans.
Fake Notes Dumped Across South East
Even after charges, more fake notes kept turning up. A dog walker discovered £5 million worth dumped in Belvedere, while another £200,940 was found scattered along the railway near Longfield. The Bank of England had already removed £1.6 million fake notes from the system.
“Counterfeiting directly funds organised crime and hurts the UK economy by causing losses for businesses, which pushes up prices for everyday goods,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin.
“This was the biggest operation of its kind in UK policing history. John Evans’ lengthy sentence reflects the severity of his crimes, with Brown and Winter also playing vital roles and now behind bars.”
“Organised criminals will go to any lengths for luxury lifestyles, even printing the money themselves. Their belief they’d avoid detection was their downfall. This case proves crime doesn’t pay.”
Neil Harris from the National Crime Agency’s Counterfeit Currency Unit added: “Serious organised criminals damage the UK’s economic health to line their own pockets.
“We helped break up this gang and stopped millions of pounds in counterfeit cash flooding the economy. This would’ve hit ordinary people hard.”
“We remain committed to battling illicit finances that fuel further serious crime.”
