A DERRY-based horse dealer who fraudulently sold horses across the British Isles has been given a suspended 18-month prison sentence.

Emma Bamber, 42, of Bridge Street, Garstang in Preston, admitted seven charges of fraud by false representation and one of engaging in misleading commercial practice.

Sentencing at Antrim Crown Court last week, Judge Fiona Bagnall said Bamber “played a vital role” in a series of frauds and her actions “illustrate her capacity for extremely deviant and manipulative behaviours”.

The judge said that, in June 2018, police in Limavady, Derry received complaints naming an Emma Bamber, from Glendra Sports Horses in nearby Feeny, as having committed numerous alleged fraud offences.

The judge said the delay in concluding the case justified suspending the sentence for two years.

She said the offending was “a reasonably large-scale operation” with the eight victims involved. The offences were carried out on various dates between January and December 2018.

While the financial impact of each individual sale was not that significant, the impact on the victims was more than financial, the judge added.

“Some of the horses were being bought for novice riders and were clearly inappropriate for that role,” said Judge Bagnall, adding that “it is fortunate that no one had been badly hurt through the actions of the defendant”.

Misleading clients

Judge Bagnall said it was clear that, despite her claims that she was repeating information her bosses had told her, Bamber had not only “held herself out as knowing about horses, but also told lies after lies to clients in order to sell what were completely inappropriate horses to susceptible purchasers”.

“This further reinforces my view that the defendant knew that what she was doing was misleading clients in order for them to purchase horses which were not as described, and further that at times were not being delivered after sale,” said the judge.

Victims

Judge Bagnall outlined how count one related to a victim buying a horse for his 14-year-old daughter in July 2018.

Although Bamber was told she was a novice, she sold them “Bess, described as an Irish Sport Horse, with an excellent and calm temperament”.

Despite Bamber’s claims of Bess’ calm temperament, when it was put into the field with another horse, it bit and kicked it. After the vet had to be called, it transpired that Bess had a longstanding tendon injury and her microchip revealed “she was actually a 10-year-old thoroughbred”.

The court heard that Bess has since kicked people and is “no longer rideable and worthless as it can only be used as a companion pony”.

Counts three and four related to a case in April 2018 when a woman bought what she believed to be a “Grand Prix show jumping horse” named Bridie. This victim transferred £5,500 but when the horse arrived it was “without the five-stage vetting as promised”.

In addition, the passport was not correct and Bridie arrived “injured with a large splint on her leg which is a longstanding ailment”.

Other victims bought horses and transferred money to Bamber but the horses “never arrived”.

One woman bought two horses from Bamber and, while the animals arrived, they were both unwell, including one with a “highly contagious” disease.

Judge Bagnall said the remaining victim was interested in buying a horse for his grandchildren who were 10 and 11.

Persuaded

“They were persuaded to buy a 16.2hh horse called Cruise and were told that he would be suitable for their grandchildren,” the judge told the court.

They bought Cruise but when they brought him to their local yard, “the horse proved dangerous and unmanageable and they were advised not to ride him or someone would be killed”.

Defence counsel Nicki Rountree emphasised that Bamber “fully accepts her role” and that she wanted it placed on record her “categorical apology to each of the victims”.