North Yorkshire ex-Porsche dealer imprisoned for fraudulent trading

Core Points - A former director of a North Yorkshire car dealership, John Patrick Hawkins, has been sentenced to jail for fraudulent trading that resulted in customers and investors losing approximately £1.5 million [1][4] - The dealership, Specialist Cars of Malton Limited, specialized in high-value Porsche vehicles and faced increasing financial difficulties, leading to reliance on overdrafts and fraudulent activities [2][3] Company Operations - Hawkins, as the sole director, continued trading while insolvent, misusing customer deposits and sale proceeds to cover existing liabilities [3][4] - By 2019, the company was in serious financial trouble, with Hawkins misleading customers and lenders, including selling vehicles without passing on proceeds and raising finance against vehicles he did not own [4][6] Impact on Victims - Dozens of customers and investors were affected, with significant financial losses incurred due to Hawkins' fraudulent activities, including the use of false documents to reassure creditors [6][8] - One notable case involved a widow who sold her late husband's Porsche for retirement funding, only to find the car sold without her knowledge, resulting in a loss of financial security [5][6] Legal Proceedings - Hawkins has been banned from acting as a company director for 10 years, and further proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act will consider confiscation of assets [7] - The judge characterized Hawkins' actions as a sustained course of dishonesty rather than a short-term lapse, highlighting the severe impact on victims [3][4]