Motor Homes company liquidator urges owners who lost thousands not to rush to court

The liquidator of Fife camper van company St Andrews Motor Homes says owners who lost tens of thousands of pounds should not rush to court to pursue the company director who failed to give them the sale price of their vehicles.

Claire Middlebrook of Middlebrooks Business Recovery and Advice has pledged to recoup substantial amounts of money for every one of them after the company went bust.

She spoke today as early moves were being made by motor home owners to have the St Andrews director Christine Galloway prosecuted for her failures to pay them full value of their vehicles.

Police Scotland confirmed yesterday that it is investigating a complaint of financial irregularity.

It is estimated that over 60 owners who struck agreements with Galloway, under which she would sell their vans and caravans, stand to lose a total of £800,000. St Andrews Motor Homes went bust after trading for 25 years and police are probing alleged financial irregularities.

The debt-ridden company which is the target of the camper van owners’ anger was run from a site between Cupar and Pitscottie, where Galloway also lives. The liquidator said over 20 motor homes which were awaiting sale are still behind the site’s locked gates. Claire Middlebrook said the owners concerned will soon be able to recover them.

Ms Middlebrook said: “I’m acutely aware of the anger felt by every owner at the actions of Christine Galloway’s company. I strongly advise creditors that they should hold off any legal action and allow me as liquidator to recover as much as possible of the value of their motor homes. I will very quickly assess the company’s remaining assets which include land and other sources of funds and it is then my legal responsibility to refund everyone to the highest possible value of their vehicle.”

Middlebrook has a list of all owners who were let down over sales of their motor home.

She said every one of them will be given the opportunity to take part in the insolvency process.

For now, Middlebrook advised owners they should not throw money at legal fees to pursue director Christine Galloway in the courts but added that camper van owners have full rights to form an action group as part of the insolvency process.

“My message as liquidator to every motor home owner is that I am here for you. And please understand it is early days in the insolvency. Middlebrooks’ number one priority is to recoup as much as we possibly can of the value of your motor home. There are still assets in the company which we will repay to every creditor.”