A Porsche dealer who swindled customers out of a staggering £1.5 million in a desperate bid to save his failing business has been sentenced to more than five years behind bars.
A Calculated Campaign of Deceit
John Hawkins, 66, of Coneysthorpe, Malton, orchestrated what a judge described as a 'sustained and calculated campaign of dishonesty'. His company, Specialist Cars of Malton Ltd (SCML), was struggling, and Hawkins resorted to multiple fraudulent methods to keep it afloat, betraying the trust of clients he had known for years.
Bradford Crown Court heard how Hawkins lied to customers 'time and again'. His deceptive practices included:
- Keeping money from vehicles sold on a 'sale or return' basis instead of passing it to the owners.
- Secretly selling cars stored at his premises without the knowledge or consent of their rightful owners.
- Launching fraudulent investment schemes, selling shares in Porsches he did not own.
- Securing large finance advances under agreements he was not entitled to enter.
Betrayal of Trust and Devastating Losses
Many victims were fellow Porsche enthusiasts who had developed friendships with Hawkins over decades, even socialising and staying at his home. This personal connection made the fraud particularly cruel.
When customers demanded their money or vehicles, Hawkins offered worthless personal guarantees or used ownership of other clients' cars as false security. After SCML collapsed into liquidation in February 2020, many were forced into legal battles to recover their assets. Some received nothing, including individuals who had relied on these investments for their retirement.
In one heartbreaking instance, a man Hawkins called 'one of his closest friends' was persuaded to invest a substantial sum he never saw again. He was forced to sell belongings to avoid losing his home.
Justice Served After Police Investigation
An investigation by North Yorkshire Police's Economic Crime Unit uncovered the full extent of the fraud. Analysis showed SCML's finances were in dire straits, with customer money merely servicing a growing overdraft.
Hawkins initially claimed he had acted honestly when interviewed in August 2020, but later pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading from late 2018 onwards. On 9 January 2026, he was sentenced to five years and three months in prison and given a ten-year Directors Disqualification Order. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is set to follow to confiscate available assets.
Sentencing, Judge Ahmed Nadim said Hawkins had 'exploited personal trust for financial gain', causing severe impact involving 'betrayal, anxiety and the loss of lifelong savings'.
Police Constable Emma Harris, the fraud investigator, stated: '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.'
