Sloemotion Distillery’s shock as 7,000 bottles allegedly stolen

The products were taken from Sloemotion Distillery in Barton-le-Willows, off the A64 near Flaxton, on Saturday night (November 23).

They were recovered by police after officers caught up with a lorry and car driving near each other on the A64 near Askham Bryan.

North Yorkshire Police said four people were detained.

But two more people inside the lorry’s cab got out while the vehicle was moving, then made off into fields, police said.

“Unfortunately for them, hot on their heels was our police dog Rhun who worked with his handler for over an hour to track scent and follow footprints across various muddy fields and woodland for approximately 7km. Rhun, who doesn’t give up easily, rumbled again as he found two men hiding in a haystack,” a police spokesperson said.

Police dog Rhun who tracked down the suspects (Image: North Yorkshire Police) They added that the lorry came to a “slow natural stop in the live lane and as traffic was light thankfully it didn’t cause any damage”.

Inside were the bottles that police suspected to be stolen – and, shortly afterwards, the distillery in Barton-le-Willows contacted the force to report an alleged break-in.

'We are shocked that this has happened', says distillery

A Sloemotion Distillery spokesperson said the seized bottles – which include vodka, gin and liqueurs – are evidence, meaning they are yet to be returned.

Until they are, the spokesperson said the Sloemotion team has vowed to “not stop until every customer gets their Christmas spirits they have been looking forward to all year”.

Joff Curtoys, founder of Sloemotion Distillery (Image: Supplied) “Without the immediate support from North Yorkshire Police we would have been facing terrible losses”, they said, adding: “North Yorkshire Police receive our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for doing such an amazing thing for us, saving our business and the local community jobs.”

They described the incident as “very upsetting”, explaining that it happened at their busiest time of year which the distillery depends on “for survival”.

Recommended reading:

• Ten arrested and £53k worth of gin recovered by police
• Well-known local distillery extends listings in Co-op, Liberty and Morrisons
• Castle Howard joins Sloemotion Distillery to launch new gin

“We are shocked that this has happened to our local, community-based business,” the spokesperson said. “We have been going since 2002 and we have never been targeted like this. It’s surreal and so upsetting.”

They added: “We are so pleased that no one was hurt during the incident and will do everything we can to ensure that supply will not be affected to our customers… our team has already ensured that the important Christmas Markets in York, Manchester and Winchester continue without disruption.”

• The police spokesperson said six people from the West Yorkshire area, two in their 20s, three in their 30s and one in his 50s, were arrested on suspicion of burglary. They have been released on bail pending further inquiries.