A PAIR of conmen who fled the country with £500,000 of their customers’ cash are still on the run nearly six years later.

Father and son Gary and Ryan Upson fled to the Continent in May 2004, leaving people who had paid for trailers through their Just Trucks business out of pocket.

The Darlington men have been wanted by the police ever since, but extradition proceedings to bring them back from their hideaway in Portugal have stalled.

Detective Inspector Geoff Smith, of Durham Police’s fraud squad, said inquiries were continuing, but the men cannot be arrested until they return to the UK.

“We looked at extradition proceedings, but we didn’t have enough evidence at that time to put them in front of the court,” he said.

“However, there are certain things we can do and we do have some things in place.”

Just Trucks sold horse boxes and other customised vehicle trailers.

Tom Blair first contacted the men when he wanted to buy a motor home for his disabled son Iain, who passed away last year. He paid £62,000 to the company, but never received the vehicle.

Last night, Mr Blair, from Middlesbrough, said he had given up hope of ever getting his money back.

“I haven’t heard from the police for years,” he said. “It’s got to the stage now where I’m not all that bothered to be honest.

“I’m in a position now where financially, it does not really affect me.

“It’s one of those things, if it’s gone, it’s gone.

“I don’t see them ever coming back to Britain, and they will have to come back before the police can interview them.”

Gary, now 72, and 39- year-old Ryan are believed to be living in the Algarve.

While the Crown Prosecution Service has blocked attempts by his officers to have the men extradited, Det Insp Smith, said they had not given up on the case.

“We had a case like this recently when the people involved returned home and we arrested them. We haven’t made any arrests in this case.

“We can track people’s flying and other transport using terrorist legislation now, but it is not as simple as that. It depends on how serious the case is.

“But it is not a closed case – inquiries are still ongoing.”