Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has welcomed the conviction of Thomas Robinson, 52, who was found guilty on two counts of fraud totalling nearly £600,000 following an extensive investigation by the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit.

Robinson defrauded luxury hotels and retailers by falsely claiming to supply premium tea grown in Scotland. He also misled a small group of genuine Scottish tea growers by selling them plants under the false pretence that they were a unique, Scottish-grown variety.

Robinson, also known as Tam O’Braan and Thomas O’Brien, was found guilty by jury at Falkirk Sheriff Court following an extensive investigation by FSS. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Between January 2014 and February 2019, Robinson operated under the business name “The Wee Tea Plantation”, asserting that he cultivated Camellia Sinensis tea plants at his Perthshire estate.

He marketed this tea as authentically Scottish-grown and sold to high-profile clients in the hospitality sector, but in reality, the tea was sourced from wholesalers outside Scotland.

Robinson further bolstered his fraudulent claims by alleging he had developed innovative techniques for cultivating tea in Scotland’s climate. He also fabricated academic qualifications and industry awards to lend credibility to his story.