Fraudulent Porsche dealer jailed for five years

A Porsche dealer who defrauded customers of £1.5m in efforts to keep his business afloat has been jailed for five years and three months.

John Patrick Hawkins, 66, who ran Specialist Cars of Malton sold vehicles stored at his site without owners' knowledge, sold shares in vehicles he did not own and entered finance agreements fraudulently.

On arrest he initially told police he denied the offence but later pleaded guilty to trading fraudulently between 2018 and 2020.

Jailing Hawkins, of Coneysthorpe, Malton at Bradford Crown Court, Judge Ahmed Nadim said: "You systematically abused and exploited the trust of customers many of whom considered you a friend.

Your actions were a sustained, calculated campaign of dishonesty."

North Yorkshire Police said Hawkins' business had turned to fraud after his business had begun to slow down and had "sought to keep the business going by raising money in several different ways – all of them dishonest".

The court heard one widow had asked Hawkins to sell her late husband's Porsche to help fund her retirement, but he sold it without her knowledge and kept the money.

"She received nothing and her financial security was stolen from her," said the judge.

When confronted by customers wanting the money they were owed, the business director gave personal guarantees and assigned ownership of other vehicles he did not own as security.

The business went into liquidation in February 2020, and many customers had to take legal action to recover interest in their vehicles.

Many of them never received any money, according to police.

Susannah Proctor, defending Hawkins, said Hawkins had acted out of a misguided belief that he could save the business which ultimately went into liquidation.

She said he had been devastated by the humiliation he had brought on his family and now lived alone in rented accommodation.

"He is truly sorry," she added.

Fraud investigator Constable Emma Harris said: "In order to maintain the façade of a successful business, Hawkins lied to customers time and time again, and falsified documents to give credence to those lies.

"The financial and emotional impact on his victims has been nothing short of devastating, and it is right that he now faces a lengthy prison sentence."

Hawkins was jailed and disqualified from being a director for ten years on Friday.

He is due to face further hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act, for the confiscation of any remaining assets.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North