A Porsche dealer who defrauded customers of £1.5 million in a desperate bid to save his failing business has been sentenced to more than five years in prison.
A Calculated Campaign of Deceit
John Hawkins, 66, the director of Specialist Cars of Malton Ltd (SCML), orchestrated what a judge described as a 'sustained and calculated campaign of dishonesty'. Bradford Crown Court heard how Hawkins lied to clients 'time and again' to keep his struggling Porsche dealership afloat. His fraudulent activities, which began in late 2018, only unravelled when SCML collapsed into liquidation in February 2020.
An investigation by North Yorkshire Police's Economic Crime Unit revealed a web of deceit. Hawkins conned car owners in multiple ways:
- Keeping money from vehicles sold on a 'sale or return' basis.
- Secretly selling cars stored at his premises without the owners' knowledge.
- Selling shares in vehicles he did not own through fraudulent investment schemes.
- Obtaining finance under false pretences and offering worthless personal guarantees.
Betrayal of Trust and Devastating Losses
Many of Hawkins' victims were fellow Porsche enthusiasts who had known him for years, with some considering him a friend. This personal trust was brutally exploited. In one stark example, a man Hawkins called 'one of his closest friends' was persuaded to invest a substantial sum, which he never saw again, and was forced to sell belongings to avoid losing his home.
The financial impact was catastrophic. Some victims, who had relied on the sale of their vehicles as part of their retirement plans, received nothing. When SCML entered liquidation, numerous customers had to pursue costly legal action just to try and recover their interests.
Justice Served After Police Probe
Hawkins, of Coneysthorpe, Malton, was interviewed by police in August 2020 but initially claimed he had acted honestly. He later pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading. On 9 January 2026, he was sentenced to five years and three months in prison at Bradford Crown Court.
Judge Ahmed Nadim told Hawkins his actions involved 'exploiting personal trust for financial gain', causing severe betrayal, anxiety, and the loss of lifelong savings. In addition to his prison term, Hawkins was issued with a ten-year Directors Disqualification Order. A further hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act is scheduled to confiscate his available assets.
North Yorkshire Police fraud investigator Constable Emma Harris 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.'
