It’s like a pie in the face.
A famed British chef who pleaded with the thieves who stole a van packed with 2,500 of his pies to share them with the needy said the flaky fiends trashed the treats, nixing his well-meaning gesture.
Renowned culinary wiz Tommy Banks took to Instagram Tuesday to report that the van “nicked” from North Yorkshire last week was found by cops — with both the vehicle and the pies “badly damaged.”
“Looking at the van it’s almost certainly a write-off. It’s pretty badly damaged,” Banks said. “Unfortunately the bin in the back and all of the pies are pretty damaged as well” Banks said. “The whole thing was a total write off to be honest, which is a real shame. It’s just so much waste and it’s just rubbish.”
“Sorry it’s not a happier ending to this story,” he added.
Banks, who owns Michelin-starred The Black Swan at Oldstead, went viral over the weekend when he sent out a message to the van thieves in an online post, asking them to share the goodies with the needy in the Christmas spirit.
“The guys had loaded up the van with stock for @tommyspieshop today and left plugged in overnight,” Banks said. “I am guessing the thieves didn’t realise they were stealing 2,500 pies along with the van.”
“The pies are all in boxes with my name on so not very easy to sell,” he added. “If you are the thieves and read this I urge you to the drop the pies off somewhere. So we can at least give them to people who need food and they are not wasted. Also I think you are a thieving piece of s–t.”
According to a press release from the North Yorkshire Police Department, the refrigerated white Fiat Ducato van was parked in a business park over the weekend when it was stolen.
Cops from the Cleveland Police Department in nearby Middlesborough found the vehicle abandoned on their turf — but with false plates so it was not immediately tied to the famed chef.
Police said the fate of the missing pies remains unknown as the investigation continues.
Banks said in the earlier Instagram video that the van contained “nearly a ton” of pies that were destined for the York Christmas market — and said he hopes the thieves also have the holiday spirit.
“I know the pies are gone and I know you’ve nicked my van,” he said. “I’m probably not getting it back. But you can’t do anything with these pies ’cause they got my name written all over them. So, can you drop them off somewhere? Drop them off like a community center or somewhere and at least someone can eat them. Someone who needs them can eat them.”
“I know you’re a criminal, but maybe just do something nice because it’s Christmas, and maybe we could feed a few thousand people with these pies that you’ve stolen. Do the right thing.”
But on Tuesday he delivered “one final pie update,” bemoaning the unhappy outcome.
Banks said the van and the crumbs are now in the police salvage yard.
“There’s obviously a lot of crime going around at the moment,” he said. “A lot of vans [have] been stolen. I was listening to the radio earlier. People are saying how many vans are being stolen.”
“I think especially at this time of the year, just be vigilant.”
He also said he won’t be leaving his vans outside in the future.
