A FORMER police officer has avoided prison after admitting six counts of fraud relating to the sale of dangerous horses.

In a case brought by Gloucestershire Trading Standards, Carrie Vinson appeared at Gloucester Crown Court for sentencing on January 21 where she was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years, ordered to pay compensation of £2,000 to two of her victims and contribute £10,000 towards prosecution costs.

Vinson, from Leonard Stanley, Stonehouse, who was a serving police officer at the time of the offences, is now subject to a curfew meaning she is not allowed out between 8pm and 5:30am, until March 28, 2015. The judge also imposed a ‘prohibited steps order’ meaning she can only sell horses in her own name in future.

The former police officer advertised horses on the website Horsemart and a Facebook site called Gloucestershire Horse Riders and led potential buyers to believe that the horses were hers or that she was selling them on behalf of friends, when she was actually in business and the horses had been sent from Ireland by an agent.

The court heard that Vinson knowingly sold horses which had previously behaved dangerously, advertising one of them as ‘perfectly mannered’ and ‘having no vices’.

The daughter of a person who bought a horse was put in danger when it began rearing and spinning round which resulted in them making a claim in the small claims court against Vinson.Vinson subsequently provided documentation to the civil court which included information which was fabricated and untruthful.

In another incident Vinson convinced a girl to sell a horse on her behalf, which had previously thrown an experienced rider who broke her hand and Vinson herself, who broke her collarbone.

The horse was advertised as ‘having never put a hoof wrong’ and was sold to an unsuspecting buyer who subsequently found the horse to be too dangerous to ride.

The court heard Vinson claimed to be a private seller, going to great lengths to hide the fact she was a dealer and denying buyers their rights.

His Honour Judge Jamie Tabor said the gravity of the case was not about the money, but that she had sold horses she knew could be dangerous and people were at risk of injury.

Cllr Will Windsor Clive, cabinet member responsible for trading standards said: “It’s good news that this extensive investigation undertaken by our Trading Standards officers has had a positive outcome.

“The unsuspecting buyers and those riding these horses could well have been seriously injured and we need to get the message out there to people that this is not something we are prepared to tolerate.”

Eddie Coventry, head of trading standards at Gloucestershire County Council said: “The risk posed to the public from Miss Vinson’s activities and her lack of concern for the safety of others is quite astonishing.

“I hope that this sentence sends a clear message to others who may be tempted to wrongly describe horses for their own financial gain.”