Mini restorer accused of £300,000 fraud

♦ A classic Mini enthusiast has allegedly fled with £300,000 of collectors’ money after stripping parts from their valuable vehicles.

Police are investigating after 40 car enthusiasts claimed to have been defrauded by Christopher Hanford, a businessman who has since vanished. The customers paid Mr Hanford, of North West Mini Motors in Glossop, Derbyshire, to renovate their prized vehicles before he absconded a year ago. Matthew Slater told the BBC he was “devastated” after he saw his cars had been stripped of their parts after paying Mr Hanford £20,000.