A 56-year-old woman from the UK has been taken into custody in the United States for allegedly masterminding a high-stakes theft at a renowned wine cellar. This incident involved the pilfering of eight exquisite bottles, valued at hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Natali Ray, who hails from Herne Bay in Kent, was reportedly involved in this brazen heist at the L’Auberge Provençale Inn & Restaurant in Virginia on November 19, in collaboration with a male accomplice who successfully fled the scene.
Court documents indicate that Ray has been charged with several serious offenses, including grand larceny, conspiracy to commit grand larceny, and defrauding an innkeeper. Should she be found guilty, she could confront a hefty sentence of up to 50 years behind bars.
According to reports, this divorced mother of three donned a wig and adopted the alias “Stephanie Baker,” positioning herself as a personal assistant to an affluent Canadian business executive seeking to host a lavish dinner for 25 — a booking that generally costs around $20,000.
Once gaining the trust of the restaurant staff, Ray was escorted to the wine cellar. Here, she reportedly engaged the sommelier in casual conversation, creating the perfect diversion while her accomplice prepared to execute the theft.
Details from the Daily Mail reveal that the man managed to stash eight valuable wine bottles in cleverly designed pockets in his coat, secretly swapping them out for cheaper replicas to avoid detection.
CCTV footage captured a man and a woman being led through the dining area to the cellar. Staff quickly realized something was amiss after the duo exited, prompting them to spring into action.
Employees intercepted Ray as she raced toward a waiting vehicle. Unfortunately, her accomplice made it to the car first and sped away.
Christian Borel, a wine expert and owner of the restaurant since 1981, remarked that Ray’s performance was quite convincing. He observed, “She seemed well-traveled, choosing her words carefully. She expertly guided me away from certain sections of the cellar while the other man concealed himself, just long enough for him to benefit.”
Borel noticed the male accomplice behaved oddly, appearing unable to move easily and noticed when Ray abruptly cut their conversation short upon his return.
As they ascended the stairs, Borel quickly realized that several wine bottles had been replaced with less valuable alternatives, leading him to instantly sound the alarm.
Waiter Matthew Leader gave chase, pursuing the pair as they sprinted towards their SUV parked a short distance away. He managed to catch hold of Ray, but the accomplice jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off — with Borel making a bold attempt to leap into the passenger seat in a bid to stop him.
Two bottles, a 2019 Échézeaux and a 2021 Grands Échézeaux, were later retrieved from the nearby grass, but the other six bottles, collectively worth around $41,500 (£31,500), remain outstanding.
Ray reportedly claimed to staff that she had been coerced into participating in the heist after encountering her accomplice on a cruise.
Originally from the Midlands, Ray has three sons and previously managed the Bay View Hotel in Herne Bay. Her LinkedIn page indicates that she possesses a degree in Creative Writing from Canterbury Christ Church University and has worked as a freelance writer.
Currently, she is in custody at the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Centre and is set to appear in court on December 3.
