THE accomplice of married Knutsford luxury car dealers has been sentenced while the couple’s fate was delayed amid claims they were being extorted by gangsters.
Together, husband and wife business partners, Richard and Rachel Gleave, defrauded dozens of customers through their criminal business, VIP Car Sales on Mereside Road, between May 2013 and March 2017.
Their offences involved a total of 65 vehicles and a staggering 41 victims, some of whom have since died waiting to see justice done.
Police believe the victims were defrauded of around £1.1 million between them.
Operating as a sale-or-return forecourt, VIP Car Sales kept its customers' money after cars had been sold, accepted payments from buyers without delivering the goods, and sold vehicles without telling their rightful owners.
They also sold cars knowing about existing credit agreements on them, arranged loans against cars they did not own, and submitted false documents to finance companies.
Following a huge investigation which started in 2017, Richard and Rachel Gleave, along with former sales manager, Mark East, were charged by Cheshire Police in January, last year.
To begin with, all three denied any wrongdoing, but in October 2025, Richard Gleave, of Flannog Lane, St Martins, Oswestry, and East, of Albany Mill, Congleton, admitted fraudulent trading.
Then on February 13, this year, Rachel Gleave, VIP’s former director who also lives in Flannog Lane, also admitted fraud by false representation relating to her role at the firm.
On April 20, the day he was set to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Richard Gleave changed his plea to guilty for one outstanding theft charge.
All three returned to Liverpool for sentencing on Thursday, July 16, however despite the best efforts of the prosecution, only East’s case was dealt with in full.
Defending Richard Gleave, Mark Monaghan told the court at the time of his client's offences, VIP Car Sales had been ‘effectively hijacked’ by 'extremely dangerous criminals' who had extorted around £200,000 from the business.
Though his client had pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading, Mr Monaghan added, his wrongdoing was done 'under coercion'.
He then requested an adjournment ahead of a trial of issue in which evidence for Richard Gleave’s claim could be tested.
Prosecuting, James Lake said while he acknowledged phone messages containing threats to Richard Gleave from known criminals, the crown asserts these men were actually among his victims.
On the claim they were extorting VIP Car Sales, Mr Lake said: “We do not accept this.
“It is not borne out by the evidence at all.”
Despite this, His Honour Judge Ian Harris granted an adjournment, and set a date of Monday, December 21 for Richard Gleave’s extortion claims to be tried.
He, along with his wife Rachel, are now set to be sentenced at the conclusion of this trial on Tuesday, December 22.
Addressing East’s single count of fraudulent trading, Mr Lake told the court the 50-year-old had acted dishonestly in relation to just one VIP Car Sales client, a man he had actually been employed by in the past.
The client, a mechanic from Ashton-in-Makerfield who specialised in buying insurance write-offs and making them driveable again, used VIP as his sales agent from when his former employee East joined the firm in 2015.
When payments for his cars VIP had sold dried up in around April 2016, he visited Knutsford but several cars he had commissioned the firm to sell were nowhere to be found.
The Gleaves’ and East lied about their whereabouts, but after getting letters from the DVLA about unknown persons trying to register his cars in their own names, he cut all business ties.
In total, the victim says he lost £37,000 to the VIP criminal enterprise.
East admitted pocketing around £10,000 of this personally after funds were transferred into his personal bank account.
Mr Lake explained East later worked for the victim without pay for several years until the criminal debt was paid in full.
This arrangement ended in 2023, and the pair are now friends.
He added: “But despite this, the fact remains East was motivated by financial gain; several vehicles were involved; and he understood full well the criminal nature of what he was doing.”
Defending, Jonathan Duffy said while East accepted this, a pre-sentence report from the Probation Services states his client now has no need of rehabilitation.
“It states clearly he has learned his lesson, has not committed any further crimes before or since, and has done everything in his power to put things right," he added.
Mr Duffy added East has very limited financial means, and what little he has, he uses to support his daughter who is living with a brain tumour.
He added: “It may be the case some sort of discharge be appropriate.
“However, if he did get this, it would be exceptional. But it is entirely a matter for your honour.”
Passing sentence, Judge Harris said: “Your offence was opportunistic and ill-considered, but I am satisfied you are completely rehabilitated, integrated into society, and have repaid your debt in full.
“You are unable to work, you pleaded guilty at a relatively early stage, and I take note of your family situation and your own poor state of health.
“The fact you have made complete reparation is unusual in my experience, and it means I can take exceptional action.”
Judge Harris handed East a conditional discharge, meaning he receives no effective punishment if he commits no further crimes in the next two years.
He was also ordered to pay a statutory £15 victim surcharge.
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