A director of a high-value sports car dealership in Knaresborough has been jailed for fraudulent trading.
Andrew Mearns, 57, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of fraud at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (14th August).
He was handed a two-and-a-half-year custodial sentence.
Between December 2006 and July 2019 Means was a director at Gmund Cars Limited a well-known business in Knaresborough which specialised in the modifying and trading of expensive vehicles - Porsches in particular.
Mearns agreed to sell cars for clients on a commission basis. Clients became concerned when they discovered that their respective vehicles had been sold but they had not received any money.
This was because Mearns had fraudulently sold his client’s vehicles but had retained the monies for himself.
The offences connected to Mearns centred around 14 separate reports submitted between October 2017 and July 2019. Following the initial report an extensive investigation was launched by North Yorkshire Police.
Police Staff Investigator Corrina Graham-Merrett from North Yorkshire Police said:
“Mearns lied to his customers time and time again. Thankfully, his offending was brought to a stop, and we have worked tirelessly to secure evidence against him over many years.
“The financial and emotional impact on his victims has been nothing short of devastating, and will no doubt continue for them whilst civil cases are pursued to have vehicles repatriated. It is right that he now faces the consequences for his actions.
“This case delivers a firm warning: fraud will be met with zero tolerance in our communities. We will pursue those who exploit honest trust by ensuring that we hold them to account.”
If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or via our website.
You can also report to Action Fraud via https://orlo.uk/agqE3 or call 0300 123 2040.
Call 999 immediately in an emergency or if you suspect a fraud is currently in progress.
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