Wine fans left out of pocket after scam

Hundreds of fine wine fans across the UK are believed to have been duped into paying for discounted wine which was never delivered.

An advert offering “huge savings on fine wines and Champagnes” from SurplusWines.co.uk was carried by The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph newspapers in March this year, but police say that several hundred people who placed orders are yet to see any wine arrive on their doorstep.

The adverts read: "With restaurants and public houses closing down on an almost daily basis due to the current recession, a European supplier to the wholesale wine merchant and restaurant trade has been left with surplus stock due to cancelled orders."

"Surplus Wines UK have been instructed to clear this surplus stock by the case, direct to the public at less than trade prices!"

West Yorkshire Police has been unable to find anyone receiving wine or Champagne after placing an order but would like to hear from anyone who did.

Surplus Wines UK was owned by a parent company, Mardenis, which was based at a restaurant – No 3 York Place – in Leeds city centre. However, the company went into administration just four weeks after the advertisements ran in the newspapers.

The restaurant in which the company was based is closed and police say they have been unable to contact the director of Mardenis, Dennis LeFrancq and believe he is no longer in the UK.

"Quite clearly we would like to speak to him at the earliest opportunity," said acting detective sergeant Jon Cockeram from West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit.

"We would hope he would be able to fill us in with the background of what has occurred and clarify the situation."

In a letter sent to customers who ordered wine, the administrators, Armstrong Watson, said: “If anyone has ordered and paid for goods that have not been delivered by the company, regrettably, the company is not in a position to supply these orders.

"Refunds will not be possible due to the company’s lack of funds when it entered administration. Anyone affected by this is now classed as an unsecured creditor".

Alan Lodge, 06.05.2010