Crook sold bogus brew to posh hotels as homegrown product

A SCAMMER who sold fake Scottish tea to the late Queen's favourite hotel and other posh outlets made more than £1million from his scheme.

- BY TIM BUGLER

Thomas Robinson, 56, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in June last year after he was found guilty by a jury of carrying out a fraud involving "significant, determined and sometimes complex planning".

He was convicted of scamming victims including top hotels, tea retailers and other planters.

The conman convinced buyers that the tea was from plants grown at his estate near Loch Tay.

But he was actually repackaging ordinary tea he bought from overseas to sell on at a massive profit.

Stirling Sheriff Court was told yesterday that he made £1,068,000 from the fraudulent venture.