Fanningham Man Jailed in UK’s Biggest Fake Cash Bust
Andrew Ainsworth, 61, from Farningham, has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for conspiring to flood the UK with over £12 million in counterfeit banknotes. The lengthy probe by Kent and Essex’s Serious Crime Directorate uncovered the largest face-value fake cash haul ever seized in the country.
Police Raid Exposes Industrial-Scale Fake £20 Printing
The police crackdown started after the Bank of England spotted fake £20 notes appearing in circulation in early 2019. Investigators traced the operation to an industrial unit in Beckenham, Kent, where officers found two men and a sea of printing gear surrounded by £5.25 million in counterfeit notes—an historic haul.
Further raids uncovered a ledger matching the pile’s value, with names linked to the crime network. Months later, a dog walker stumbled upon another £5 million worth of fake notes dumped in Belvedere. Additional counterfeit cash was found along railway lines between Farningham and Longfield.
Network Uncovered, Other Members Already Jailed
Ainsworth was tied to the gang through detailed financial and personal links, including attending meetings and visiting the Beckenham press. Three other ring members admitted involvement and were locked up for a total of 22-and-a-half years back in January 2021. Four co-defendants were acquitted.
Senior Officers Warn of Serious Consequences
“Counterfeiting isn’t victimless,” said Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Pritchard. “It fuels organised crime and hits the UK economy hard, pushing up prices and damaging businesses. The Beckenham press was supposed to print magazines—not fake cash. Those involved were naive to think they’d get away with it.”
Neil Harris from the National Crime Agency added: “This operation stopped millions in fake notes flooding the UK, protecting innocent people and retailers. Tackling those behind both the printing and distribution sends a strong message—crime won’t pay.”
