Sunday Sport
Kevin Norquay
‘‘That was a long time ago, 20 years ago.’’
He hoped to earn money from his photography venture to pay his debts, he said.
In 2010, the Waikato Times reported Peers had briefly returned to New Zealand. But before long, he was back in the UK, where he embarked on a succession of ventures in Weymouth, a seaside town in Dorset, southeast England.
Companies House records in the UK show that between 2011 and 2019, Peers incorporated eight companies, some with his wife, Luanne Peers. These included a real estate company, an automotive business and a venture to grow tropical fruits. The companies demonstrated a wide range of interests, but little viability, with few lasting more than a handful of months.
During this time, Peers worked on and off as a bus driver.
In 2015, Peers, described as a ‘‘local businessman’’ by Weymouth newspaper the Dorset Echo, opened a tourist information centre. Two years later he made another appearance in the Echo. His latest venture, an indoor market, had failed before it got off the ground. Traders, some of whom had paid in advance, arrived at the building on opening day to discover they were locked out, and that the building’s owner was unaware a tenant was moving in.
Peers told Stuff the traders had misunderstood the market terms, and he did not owe them any money. He had spent traders’ money on building renovations, Peers said. Stallholders were eventually able to get into the building and trade, so had not been out of pocket, he added.
He regretted not getting anything in writing from the traders, or from the building’s owner.
Mike Ellery is a Weymouth antiques dealer who has amassed a thick file on Peers.
Ellery came on the scene after the market failed: the building owner asked him to take over the building management, work with the traders, and try to recoup money from Peers.
Far from completing renovations, Peers had left the market building in a mess: doors were broken, wiring was exposed, and there was rubbish crammed into every corner, Ellery claimed.
Ellery wasn’t sure how much money Peers owed the traders.
However, he thought it was at least £4800 ($NZ9250), including money Peers owed him.
He felt sorry for those who lost money. ‘‘[They] weren’t rich people; they had little shops and market stalls, trying to make a few quid.’’
Ellery, a straight-talking, former Customs officer, has spent three years keeping tabs on Peers and his projects.
‘‘He starts things and never finishes them.’’
Ellery has confronted Peers in person: once on his doorstep, and another time on the bus Peers was driving. ‘‘I was very unpleasant to him to try and wind him up. But he didn’t rise to it, he didn’t say anything.’’
Peers had burned his bridges in the seaside town, Ellery said.
Dorset Police investigation officer Andy Stitfall confirmed to Stuff that Peers was set to appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on March 9 for five offences of fraud by false representation and one offence of theft.
The offences were alleged to have occurred in the Weymouth area between March 2014 and June 2016, Stitfall said.
‘‘Mr Peers failed to appear at court when required and a warrant was subsequently issued. He is currently wanted for failing to appear at court.’’
When Stitfall tracked Peers down in Nelson, Peers had told the police officer that he would return to the UK on June 23, Stitfall said.
In a Facebook post on May 25, Peers advertised a return flight to London for sale. The flight was departing from Auckland on
July 1 and returning to New Zealand in September. The listing was marked as sold.
Peers did not respond to further questions from Stuff.
A few days after his interview with Stuff, Peers deactivated his website.
‘[They] weren’t rich people; they had little shops and market stalls, trying to make a few quid.’’’ MIKE ELLERY ON TRADERS LEFT OUT OF POCKET