Farningham Man Jailed Over UK’s Biggest Fake Cash Haul
Andrew Ainsworth, 61, from Farningham, has been slammed with five-and-a-half years behind bars over a huge counterfeit cash conspiracy. Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate uncovered what’s believed to be the largest face-value seizure of fake notes ever seen in the UK. The bust at a Beckenham industrial unit snagged £5.25 million in bogus £20 notes.
Massive Raid Uncovers Printing Press Operation
The year-long probe began after the Bank of England flagged up suspicious new £20 notes coming into circulation. Specialist officers linked the fake cash to a commercial printing press tucked away in Kent House Lane, Beckenham. A raid in May 2019 revealed two men surrounded by printing machines and piles of counterfeit notes, exposing a well-organised crime ring.
- A £5 million stash of fake notes was found dumped in Belvedere in October 2019.
- Another £200,000 in bogus notes turned up along railway lines in January 2020.
- The Bank of England had already withdrawn £1.8 million of these fakes from circulation.
Crackdown on Organised Crime Network
Ainsworth was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court for conspiring to produce fake currency. Others in the gang were hit with a combined 22 years behind bars back in 2021. Four men accused alongside Ainsworth were cleared.
Investigators pieced together Ainsworth’s ties to the group through mobile phone evidence and surveillance, catching him at meetings and at the press. A list of names with huge sums matching the fake note haul was found at another address, linking all to the conspiracy.
Police Warn: Counterfeiting Hurts Everyone
Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Pritchard said: “This operation has smashed an organised crime group trying to literally print their own wealth. Counterfeiting isn’t victimless — it funds serious crime and damages the UK economy by hitting businesses and shoppers alike.”
He added: “The fake cash press looked like a legitimate print shop but was pumping out millions in worthless notes. The criminals thought they could get away with it, but they were wrong.”
Neil Harris from the National Crime Agency warned: “Had this gang gone undetected, millions in fake cash would have hit communities and retailers across the country. This conviction sends a clear message that money laundering and counterfeiting won’t be tolerated.”
Kent Police say they’ll keep working with the NCA and Bank of England to bust more counterfeiters and protect the economy from fraudsters. This historic case serves as a stark reminder — crime doesn’t pay.
