Fraudster foiled by modern printing methods in fake statue scheme

Andrew Crowley, 46, of Longwell Green, Gloucestershire, attempted to sell fake ancient statues to Sotheby's, but was caught when forensic analysis revealed the accompanying invoices were printed using methods invented in 2001, despite being dated 1976. The items included three Cycladic figures and one Anatolian stargazer statuette, which Crowley claimed he inherited from his grandfather. Prosecutors estimated the statues would be worth £680,000 if authentic, but Judge Rimmer reduced this to £340,000 due to hypotheticals. Sotheby's experts also noted spelling errors in the documents. Crowley admitted dishonestly making a false representation to Sotheby's between November 2022 and July 2023. He received a two-year suspended sentence, 200 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £1,630 in costs. The judge accepted Crowley believed the statues were genuine. Detective Constable Ray Swan of the Metropolitan Police praised Sotheby's cooperation in preventing fraud. Authentic Cycladic figures date to the Bronze Age, about 3,000 years ago.