A POLICEWOMAN who also ran an equestrian business in Pilning cheated her customers by telling them that horses which she knew were dangerous were perfectly safe to ride, a court heard today.

Carrie Vinson, 33, of Severn Waters, Leonard Stanley, near Stroud, described one horse as 'having no vices and perfectly mannered' when she knew it had previously behaved dangerously.

Of another horse, she said he had 'never put a hoof wrong' when she knew he had also been dangerous in the past.

Vinson, who has a 3 months old baby and resigned from Gloucestershire police in 2012 after suffering arthritis, pleaded guilty at Gloucester crown court today to six offences of fraud.

They concerned horses called Fly, Derek (also known as Lad), Lindy (aka Linda) and Lady.

One charge said that between May 20 and June 30 2012 she described Fly as having no vices and being perfectly mannered when she knew he had previously behaved dangerously.

She also admitted failing to disclose in an advert for Fly that she was in a trade or business.

On another charge she pleaded guilty to selling Derek (Lad) between April 3 and June 30 2012 without disclosing he had previously behaved dangerously.

She further admitted that between April 1 and June 30 2012 she failed to disclose when selling Derek (Lad) and Lindy (Linda) that she was in the trade.

Vinson also admitted that between the same dates she made a false representation to Jane Jones when selling her Derek and Lindy that she was doing so on behalf of another woman when in fact she was not.

Finally she admitted that in December 2011 she dishonestly failed to disclose when selling Lady that she was in trade or business.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC said he found it a particularly serious aspect of the case that while still a serving police officer Vinson had signed a false letter knowing it was to be used in county court proceedings.

At the start of today's hearing he encouraged prosecution and defence to discuss Vinson pleading to an acceptable number of offences in the original list of fourteen charges so that a 10-12 day trial costing up to £200,000 could be avoided. After a brief adjournment Vinson returned to court and admitted six offences on the list. The rest were not proceeded with.

Sarah Jenkins, defending, said her current business is running a riding school and stabling but she does have to by horses in. Judge Tabor said he had no problem with her buying horses but selling them was a different matter.

The judge told Vinson he would not jail her for the offences but he regarded them as serious and he would inflict 'severe punishment' on her when he passes sentence on a date to be fixed next week. He ordered that she must not sell any horses while on bail unless she discloses her convictions to her customers.

Adjourning the case, the judge said "I need to know a lot more about her. She is not to sell horses directly or through an agent without first revealing these convictions to the proposed purchaser."

Ms Jenkins said "She was a serving Gloucester police officer then there was a period of ill health when she worked on and off, followed by resignation in December 2012. She suffers some form of arthritis and has also suffered bereavement on the death of her father."