Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks’ stolen pie van found in Middlesbrough

A stolen van that contained 2,500 pies has been found by police, a Michelin-starred chef has confirmed.

Tommy Banks, who runs award-winning restaurants in North Yorkshire, said the van had been due to drop off the pies, worth £25,000, at York Christmas Market on Monday morning.

However, he believed the white Fiat Ducato had been snatched from a business park in Melmerby, near Ripon, on Sunday night.

The refrigerated van was found abandoned with false number plates in the Hemlington area of Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire Police said.

Mr Banks admitted the incident was “a bit like a Wallace & Gromit sketch”.

“I don’t think the guys who stole the van were necessarily trying to steal pies. I think they were trying to steal a van and the pies were just collateral,” he said.

He does not yet know if the large number of steak and ale, turkey and cranberry, and butternut squash-filled pastries were still in the vehicle.

“A van is a van, but the amount of work that goes into making pies is huge,” he said.

He added that he felt “sad” that such a large amount of food could go to waste.

North Yorkshire Police previously said an investigation had been launched into the theft and asked anyone with information to get in touch.

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