North Yorkshire ex-Porsche dealer imprisoned for fraudulent trading

A former director of a North Yorkshire car dealership has been jailed after admitting fraudulent trading that left customers and investors around £1.5m out of pocket, with the case centred on the misuse of customer funds and vehicle-backed finance arrangements.

John Patrick Hawkins, 66, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court after pleading guilty to fraudulent trading linked to his management of Specialist Cars of Malton Limited between late 2018 and February 2020.

Reporting by TeessideLive said the court heard the business, which traded in high-value Porsche vehicles, ran into increasing financial difficulty as losses mounted and reliance on an overdraft grew.

Judge Ahmed Nadim told the court that Hawkins was the sole director and had continued trading while insolvent, using money from new customers to meet existing liabilities. The judge described the conduct as a “sustained” course of dishonesty rather than a short-term lapse, with customer deposits and sale proceeds diverted to keep the business operating.

By 2019, Hawkins was in serious financial difficulty and began misleading customers, lenders and investors, the court was told. This included selling vehicles on behalf of owners without passing on proceeds, and raising finance against vehicles he did not own. The judge said the £1.5m figure did not fully reflect the impact on victims, many of whom had placed trust in the business.

One case involved a widow who was persuaded to sell her late husband’s Porsche to fund her retirement. The car was sold without her knowledge and she received no money. The judge said her “financial security was taken”.

Dozens of customers and investors were affected, with the court hearing that Hawkins obtained hundreds of thousands of pounds through vehicle-backed loans and investment schemes linked to classic and high-value cars. False documents were used to reassure creditors and lenders, prolonging trading while losses deepened.

In mitigation, defence barrister Susannah Proctor said Hawkins believed he could recover the business and later liquidation showed that belief was misplaced. She said he was “ashamed” of the impact on his family, had no significant assets, and now lived in rented accommodation. Further proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act will consider confiscation.

Judge Nadim imposed a 10-year ban on Hawkins acting as a company director. A confiscation hearing is expected later this year.

North Yorkshire Police fraud investigator Constable Emma Harris said Hawkins repeatedly lied to customers and falsified documents to maintain the appearance of a viable operation, adding that the financial consequences for victims were severe.