The director of a Fife motorhome company has admitted defrauding customers of nearly £350,000.
Christine Galloway, 68, admitted the theft after initially facing a charge of around double the amount while sole director of St Andrews Motorhomes Ltd.
Galloway, who now lives in Rhyl, Wales, liquidated her company in the summer of 2018 after around 30 years in business.
She had spent the months leading up to the move ripping off clients by brokering sales of their motorhomes but keeping all the cash.
She promised she would sell the vehicles but customers became suspicious when no payment was forthcoming.
The vast majority of those she defrauded were pensioners, who had purchased vehicles in their retirement.
One victim even saw their motorhome – which Galloway said had not been sold – being driven by its new owner on the M8 near Livingston.
Multiple rip-offs
Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan told Dundee Sheriff Court the firm operated by buying used caravans and motorhomes either outright or through brokerage deals, then selling them.
“The brokerage agreement offered a guaranteed sale price, which was typically higher than that currently being asked by the seller, with the seller receiving their payment 30 days following the sale of the property.
“On June 6 2018, St Andrews Motorhomes was placed into liquidation by the accused.
“Numerous individuals contacted the police having entered into agreements with St Andrews Motorhomes to sell their caravan or motorhome for them signing a brokers agreement also signed either by the accused or (manager) Robert McCabe.”
The victims’ cases were outlined in court.
James Graham
Mr Graham, then 75 and now deceased, purchased a motorhome in 2015 but became too ill to drive it and entered into a brokerage agreement with Galloway to sell with a return price of £53,000.
The vehicle was sold two months later and Graham was not notified until visiting the firm in May 2018.
The accused agreed to pay the sum in three instalments but did not do so.
William Nicoll
Mr Nicoll purchased his vehicle in October 2006 for £41,985 but decided to give it up when he and his wife were in their eighties.
They had always used St Andrew Motorhomes for MOTs so, in September 2017, entered into a £29,000 brokerage deal.
On May 28 2018 he was told by the accused his vehicle had sold.
Still seeking payment, he returned on June 6 2018 and the site was closed.
Claire Middlebrook, the liquidator later confirmed his vehicle had actually been sold on October 10 2017 for £24,000.
Thomas McCotter
Mr McCotter decided to sell his motorhome – bought in June 2017 for £30,000 – at the end of November 2017 to help fund a new house.
He initially advertised on Gumtree and was contacted by Mr McCabe, with whom he had previously dealt.
On December 12 he entered into a brokerage deal with St Andrews Motorhomes, through Galloway, for £33,000 return.
After several inquiries, he was told it had sold and he received a cheque months later. It did not clear.
The firm had sold his motorhome on December 16 for £27,000.
Alistair Falconer
Mr Falconer entered into a £36,000 brokerage agreement in January 2018.
After various attempts to be updated, Mr McCabe told him on March 17 they had taken a substantial deposit but he had received a letter the day before from the DVLA informing him he was no longer the owner.
He got a cheque, which bounced, a month later.
Galloway said there was a cash flow problem and offered a lesser sum – £18,000 – by bank transfer, which cleared.
Attempts to get the remainder failed and the motorhome had been sold already for £30,000.
Joy Malcolm
Impressed by positive reviews, Ms Malcolm agreed to sell through St Andrews Motorhomes with a return price of £21,000 in January 2017.
Bad weather was blamed for an apparent failure to sell but when Mrs Malcolm, four months later, said she would collect the van, she was advised not to.
She later learned the company had folded and her property had already been sold for £18,000.
William Urquhart
Mr Urquhart agreed to a £34,000 brokerage sale early in 2018 and was told in mid-April a deposit had been put down by a prospective buyer.
The accused then said that sale had fallen through but they would proceed with a trade sale and the price would still be paid.
The motorhome had been sold for £30,000 by the time the firm went into liquidation.
Robert Moore
Mr Moore agreed to a £32,000 deal in March 2018.
Calls and emails went unreturned until he received an message from the accused stating a sale had been finalised on April 25 and the money would be sent on May 25.
After learning of the liquidation on Facebook, he discovered his vehicle had been sold for £27,250, only four days after the agreement had been signed.
William Cairns
Mr Cairns was another who sold due to ill health after the accused answered an advertisement on March 28.
A £20,500 deal was agreed and he was – eventually – told it had sold on May 7.
No payment was ever made.
John Henderson
Another who researched the company, Mr Henderson agreed a return price of £31,000 on March 19 2018.
In mid-May, the accused said she had found a potential buyer but there was no contact after that.
On June 2 he visited the site and met the accused who said she would not discuss matters.
Their motorhome had been sold for £31,000, just 12 days after the agreement was signed.
Michael Brown
Mr Brown used St Andrews Motorhomes on the recommendation of a friend and agreed a return deal for £16,000 on March 19 2018.
After spotting his property listed for £27,000 on their website, he contacted the firm for an update and was told to check back later.
It was their last communication. The vehicle was sold for £17,000.
Robert Tod
After advertising their £43,000 vehicle for sale online, Mr Tod was contacted by Galloway and entered into a broker agreement with a return price of £38,200 on April 12 2018.
Two weeks later he noticed it was for sale on the company website for £42, 495.
On May 21, he received notification from DVLA it was registered to another party.
Mr McCabe confirmed a sale but no money was forthcoming.
It had been sold for for £32,000 the day Mr Tod saw it online..
Richard Llewelyn
On October 28 2017 Mr Llewellyn entered into an agreement with a return price of £22,500.
On May 20 2018 his wife and daughter were travelling on the M8 around Livingston when they spotted the caravan on the same carriageway ahead of them.
Galloway, after several calls, said a sale had recently been concluded and payment would come in mid-June.
Post-liquidation Mr Llewellyn discovered his property had been sold in November 2017 for £19,000.
Sentence deferred
In all but two of the cases, the vehicles had been sold to a firm called Martins of Exeter.
Galloway took personal possession of each vehicle.
The total loss incurred by all parties was £347,450.
Her bail was continued and she will return to court in May for sentencing.
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