An English woman has admitted a series of frauds in relation to horse trading in Northern Ireland.
With Emma Bamber standing in the dock of Antrim Crown Court, defence counsel Nicki Rountree asked for eight of the 18 charges on the bill of indictment to be put to the 42-year-old again.
Bamber, with an address at Bridge Street, Garstang in Preston, then entered guilty pleas to seven charges of fraud by false representation and one of engaging in misleading commercial practice with all of the offences committed on different dates between 10 January and 6 December 2018.
Following Bamber’s confessions prosecuting counsel Suzanne Gallagher asked for the ten remaining charges, including one further fraud, two of forgery and seven of failing to provide a horse passport at the time of transfer, to be marked as “left on the books.”
While none of the facts surrounding the charges were opened in court, the particulars of the offences reveal that Bamber:
- Told a victim a horse was “suitable for her grandchildren” when in fact it was an ex-racehorse;
- Claimed a horse she sold was an Irish Sports Horse when it was not;
- Claimed an animal called Bridie had “a full set of x-rays and five stage vetting” when it did not;
- Further claimed that Bridie was “an ‘extremely talented show jumping horse and sound in all ways’, when in fact it was not;
- Took deposits for horses she did not have and did not transport.
Judge Fiona Bagnall said given the pleas and the other charges left on the books “that is all matters accounted for” and she suggested that as the woman lives in England, she would allow extra time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
Ms Rountree told the judge Bamber “is willing to travel back to NI” in order to meet with probation officials which should make matters easier.
Freeing Bamber on continuing bail, Judge Bagnall said she would pass sentence on 3 December.