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03
Apr 2023
Alleged victims of fraud at Knaresborough car dealership call for more police action
The victims of an alleged fraud involving Porsches in Knaresborough have criticised police for the lack of progress in the investigation.
North Yorkshire Police launched an investigation in summer 2019 after allegations that dealership Gmund transferred ownership of cars worth more than £1 million without the owners' permission.
A man in his 50s was arrested at the time and released under investigation.
Now, almost four years on, the alleged victims have questioned why there has been no update from police since February 2022. One told the Stray Ferret:
Asked for an update, a spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police last week said:
The Stray Ferret first published at story in summer 2020 after speaking to six alleged victims of fraud at Gmund.
One man, Anthony Place, claimed he was never paid the £52,000 he was owed when his car was sold in early 2019. He grew so frustrated that he painted a message asking for his money on the side of his other Porsche – and hired a plane with a banner bearing the same words to fly over the dealership.
Another man contacted the Stray Ferret to say he had bought a car from Gmund and had since been told by police he was unable to sell or modify the vehicle while the investigation continued.
One of the alleged victims, who asked not to be named, told the Stray Ferret last week he was frustrated by the slow progress of the investigation:
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Gmund was founded in 2006 and was known for buying and selling classic Porsche cars.
The company, which was based at the Nidd Valley Business Park, was dissolved in 2020 and its owner Andrew Mearns was declared bankrupt.
His wife, the former Conservative councillor for Knaresborough Scriven Park, Samantha Mearns, was company secretary from the time it was founded 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 the council and moved to Wales, citing family reasons.
The administrator’s report from June 2020 found more than £1 million in claims stacked up against the business with only £15,000 in assets.
The alleged victim added:
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