Fake Cash Kingpin Locked Up After Massive £5.25 Million Bust
Andrew Ainsworth, 61, from Farningham, has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years behind bars for masterminding a huge counterfeit cash operation. The arrest caps off a lengthy and complex investigation by Kent and Essex’s Serious Crime Directorate, uncovering the biggest fake currency haul in UK history.
Record-Breaking Operation Uncovered at Beckenham Printing Press
Police raided an industrial unit in Beckenham, seizing counterfeit £20 notes worth a staggering £5.25 million. Officers found printing equipment and piles of fake cash in what was supposed to be a legitimate printing press for magazines and leaflets. The Bank of England and National Crime Agency aided the probe.
Gang’s Web of Deceit: From Dartford to Longfield
Ainsworth, based on Old Dartford Road, was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court in March 2022 of conspiring to produce fake notes. Three other gang members were jailed for a combined 22-and-a-half years in January 2021, while four men were cleared of charges. Evidence showed Ainsworth was deeply involved, attending meetings and overseeing the printing operation.
Investigations began in January 2019 when new fake £20 notes were spotted in circulation. Tracing materials ordered for currency production led cops to the Beckenham press. A search warrant executed in May 2019 uncovered the counterfeit empire. A further sweep at a Longfield address revealed a ledger linking Ainsworth and others, listing millions in fake notes.
Fake Notes Dumped Across South East – Millions Recovered
- October 2019: Dog walker finds £5 million in bogus notes dumped in Belvedere
- January 2020: £200,940 in counterfeit cash found along railway between Farningham and Longfield
- Bank of England removed £1.8 million of fake cash from circulation
Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Pritchard said: “This was a professional outfit, but they thought they’d get away with it. Counterfeiting funds serious crime and hits the UK economy hard. We’ve sent a clear message: this sort of offending won’t be tolerated.”
Neil Harris from the NCA added: “Our operation stopped millions in fake notes flooding the streets. Innocent people, especially retailers, would have suffered big losses if they’d succeeded. Serious criminals always look for ways to make illegal profits, but we’re staying one step ahead.”
This crackdown on organised fraudsters shows UK law enforcement’s commitment to protect businesses and the wider economy from fake cash scams.
