Luxury car dealer held over a multi-million pound sting including £90k Ferrari that vanished
Gleave was hunted by owners who never received a penny from the sales of their prized classics
A SUPERCAR dealer has been held over a multi-million pound sting — including a £90,000 Ferrari that vanished after being left for a valet.
Richard Gleave, 45, was being hunted by scores of owners who claimed they have never received a penny from the sales of their classic motors.
He and wife Rachel, 36, gave VIP Car Sales a champagne launch two years ago in Knutsford, Cheshire.
But the business was forced into liquidation and the couple were detained by cops.
A Facebook site under the heading People vs Richard Sean Gleave has been joined by more than 100 raging motorists.
Last night a car finance boss from Warrington who says he was swindled by Gleave claimed he had been detained at an airport trying to flee the country with bags of cash - though police were unable to confirm.
He said: "Gleave has a history of exporting cars and was trying to reach Cambodia, where his brother-in-law now lives."
Two Ferraris - one thought to be a 1980s Testarossa - are believed to have disappeared from his garage while in for a polish.
A teacher named Janet, married to a petrolhead funeral director, fumed on Facebook: "We were friends with these scumbags for over 10 years. He sold a car for us which we never got paid for.
"He put our £70k Porsche in a safe place on the day he was initially arrested...we can't get the car back.
"On top of that he sold a £90k Ferrari that had gone in for a valet. Both of them were arrested on 60 counts of fraud...and they have both disappeared.
"He has even shafted his in laws. So much for friendship."
Cheshire Police said a man aged 45 and a woman aged 36 had been bailed during inquiries.
CARS UNDER INVESTIGATION
Mercedes 450SL soft-top, 1977, sold for £18,950, but never delivered.
Range Rover Vogue, sold for £90,000 and failed to pay-off £40,000 in outstanding finance on it.
Orange Jaguar F-type 3.0 V6, sold for £40,000 and exported but original owner not paid.
Maserati Gran Turismo S, sold for £40,000, owner never paid.
BMW M2 worth £50,000 with 160 miles on the clock, vanished and later seized by police.
Burgandy Porsche 911, payment of £29,500 taken from buyer in Australia but car disappeared.
A Range Rover Sport, Porsche 911SC, Bentley Arnage T, Hummer H2 and an Audi R8.