Three men have been sentenced after a significant police operation dismantled one of the UK’s biggest counterfeit currency rings. The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate led the investigation, resulting in what is believed to be the largest face-value seizure of fake banknotes ever recovered in Britain during a raid at an industrial unit in Beckenham.
John Evans, 27, from Esher, Surrey, and Phillip Brown, 54, of Longfield, were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on 20 January 2021. Evans, identified as a key organiser, received a 10-year sentence and also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice. Brown was sentenced to six and a half years after being found printing counterfeit £20 notes at the Beckenham unit owned by Nick Winter, 58, who had already been sentenced to six years the previous month.
The police investigation began in January 2019 after the Bank of England detected suspicious new £20 notes printed using high-tech equipment typically used for producing magazines and leaflets. Following months of detailed detective work, including phone surveillance, officers located Winter’s premises in Beckenham. There, Brown and his accomplice were caught surrounded by printing equipment and counterfeit £20 notes valued at approximately £5.25 million.
Brown did not deny his involvement, telling officers, “You have caught me red-handed.” Investigators also discovered a list at Brown’s home that matched the total value of the counterfeit notes, containing names including ‘John,’ believed to refer to Evans.
Even after the arrests, more counterfeit notes continued to be found. A dog walker discovered £5 million worth of fake notes dumped in Belvedere, while another £200,940 was found scattered along the railway near Longfield. Prior to these discoveries, the Bank of England had already removed £1.6 million in fake notes from circulation.
Detective Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin stated, “Counterfeiting directly funds organised crime and hurts the UK economy by causing losses for businesses, which pushes up prices for everyday goods. 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.”
He added, “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 commented, “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.”
He concluded, “We remain committed to battling illicit finances that fuel further serious crime.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
