£100,000 WORTH OF WINE STOLEN IN RAID

The thieves broke into Bury Farm Industrial Estate in Curbridge and spent several hours looting the warehouse where independent merchant Alexander Hadleigh keeps its wines.

They made off with several hundred cases of wine and even stole another vehicle to flee the scene in – a white Ford Iveco van which police later found abandoned near Wimborne in Dorset.

Owner Delwyn Taylor told the Daily Echo: “It is a devastating blow to the business. It has, of course, kicked us hard but we are not going to let this bring us down. You have to get on with it and it will be hard, but we will.

“It is absolutely sickening and we are still in a state of shock. We have got to carry on and just hope these thieves get put away. They are intent on destruction and have no regard for those they are hurting.”

Many of the wines are supplied to local on-trade establishments and are distributed exclusively by Alexander Hadleigh and the police are hoping that this will make tracking the culprits easier.

Investigator Jerry King said in a statement: “Much of the stolen wine can be easily identified as the victims are the only company to import the wine into England.

“I would urge anyone with any information no matter how small, to come forward and speak to us as your information could be significant and could help us find those responsible.”