Knaresborough car dealer jailed for fraudulent trading

A director of a high-value sports car dealership in Knaresborough has been jailed for fraudulent trading.

Mr Andrew Mearns, 57, of Colwyn Place, Llandudno in Wales pleaded guilty to 14 counts of fraud at Sheffield Crown Court.

Today (Friday August 14) 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 16 separate reports submitted between October 2017 and July 2019. Following the initial report an extensive investigation was launched by North Yorkshire Police. It has taken several years to reach today’s outcome.

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.”