A Knaresborough luxury car dealer admitted a string of fraud offences today (October 31), just days before his trial was due to begin.

Andrew Mearns, 57, owned Gmund Cars Ltd, which operated at Nidd Valley Trading Estate in Knaresborough.

Mearns, whose wife Samantha is a former Conservative councillor who worked in Conservative MP Andrew Jones' office, previously denied 13 counts of fraud and three counts of theft at York Crown Court in June 2023.

The charges were later increased to 16 counts of fraud and three counts of theft. 

All of the charges related to his business between 2015 and 2020.

Mearns’ trial was due to start at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday (November 3) following lengthy delays.

However, in a dramatic U-turn today (October 31) he pleaded guilty to all 16 fraud charges.

Sheffield Crown Court told the Stray Ferret “no plea” was entered for the three theft allegations, which included the alleged theft of a £60,000 Porsche Turbo, a £65,000 Porsche 911 Carrera and a £130,000 Porsche 356.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service indictment, Mearns failed to pay 16 separate victims after selling their vehicles. 

Mearns, now of Colwyn Place in Llandudno, Wales, will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on February 27, 2026. 

The luxury dealer who went bankrupt

Gmund started in 2006 and forged a reputation for classic Porsche cars.

The company was later dissolved and Mearns was declared bankrupt.

Ms Mearns, the former Conservative councillor for Knaresborough Scriven Park, was company secretary until December 2018.

Ms Mearns told the Stray Ferret in 2020 she was never interviewed by police in relation to the allegations.

In July 2021, she resigned from Harrogate Borough Council and moved to Wales citing family reasons.

In 2020, six victims spoke to the Stray Ferret about their experiences with the firm.

Matt Saphier told the Stray Ferret in 2020 he took his Porsche 911, valued at more than £80,000, to Gmund Cars Ltd in May 2017.

After many months of waiting, Mr Saphier received a DVLA notice to say that his car had changed ownership in November 2018. He claims he did not give permission for the sale and Gmund Cars Ltd never sent him the money.

Another customer, Anthony Place, said he took his Porsche 924 Carrera GT to Gmund Cars in August 2018 to be sold on a 'sale or return' basis.

The DVLA sent Mr Place a notice in March 2019 to say his car had changed ownership, but he never received any money from the sale. After a couple months of pestering, Mr Place lost his patience.

Mr Place decided to head down to Gmund Cars Ltd for an open day where more than 200 people were in attendance. He printed t-shirts, painted on the side of one of his other cars and even paid for a plane to carry a banner. 

The message was simple: "Where's my £52,495 Gmund?".