Missing murder suspect Gary Malone made insurance claims totalling more than £500,000 for guitars he falsely reported stolen, magistrates heard this week.

Mr Malone dubbed Potters Bar's answer to Reggie Perrin after disappearing to Spain submitted two huge claims on his prized guitars.

The former karate teacher once boasted his collection was worth a staggering £750,000.

Attempts to recover some 350 items, including 37 rare guitars, suffered a setback this week when magistrates ruled the case must go through the civil courts.

Mr Malone gifted all his possessions to Gareth Malone, his son by a former marriage, before disappearing in January last year.

The property was seized by detectives investigating the death of Mr Malone's wife, mother-of-two Sharon Malone.

The 28-year-old trainee teacher's battered body was discovered in March last year, four months after she was reported missing from her home in Cranborne Crescent, Potters Bar. No-one has been charged with her murder.

On Tuesday, lawyers acting for two insurance companies told Hendon magistrates certain guitars seized by police matched those previously reported stolen.

Mr Malone claimed £165,000 from insurance company British Reserve in 1989; then another £336,000 from the Royal Sun Alliance in 1998, the court heard. Nearly £450,000 was actually paid out.

A list of seized items running to 11 pages includes two cars of which one has been destroyed and another 'lost' by police jewellery, and household goods, including a postcard from Weymouth, the court heard.

Jon Penn, representing Gareth Malone, disputed that guitars had been falsely reported stolen and accused police of "losing" items seized.

Detectives want Gary Malone, who has reportedly changed his name to Ralph Kirque, to return to England to be interviewed in connection with his wife's murder.

October 24, 2001 17:21

MATTHEW NIXSON