A FORMER policewoman who sold two dangerous horses after falsely describing them as 'well mannered' and "never put a hoof wrong" was handed a 12 months suspended jail sentence on Tuesday.

Carrie Vinson, 33, who has resigned from Gloucestershire police since the offences, was also ordered to pay £10,000 in costs and £2,000 compensation - and was placed on a tagged curfew for two months.

Vinson, of Severn Waters, Leonard Stanley, nr Stroud, Glos, who had been thrown off one of the horses herself before selling it as 'viceless', admitted six offences of fraud. She had told a friend the horse had 'a screw loose' but still went on to sell it as well behaved and safe.

Gloucester crown court heard she was running her equestrian business 'on the side' with police permission - but at the time of the offences was being investigated by the force because she was on sick leave but suspected of being fit to work.

Passing sentence, Judge Jamie Tabor QC told her she had "knowingly sold two horses to clients knowing that they were unsuitable and dangerous in certain circumstances."

With regard to a horse called 'Fly,' she had deliberately misled buyer Amy Whatley into believing it was viceless and well mannered onlhy days after it had been returned by a previous purchaser because it was potentially dangerous, said the judge.

"You yourself fell off Fly after it reared," said the judge. "Not only was this sale dishonest but it was also potentially dangerous

"Within a few days of selling Fly you advertised a horse called Derek, saying he had 'never put a hoof wrong.' Even allowing for advertising puff this was not simply an exaggeration but a thoroughly dishonest representation , Derek had not only thrown you but actually caused you physical injury requiring you to go to hospital for treatment.

"In an unguarded moment you were to say to a friend that Derek had a screw loose. To describe the horse in the way you did after that accident was in my judgement the worst aspect of the case,

"As a result the horse was passed onto an unsuspecting purchaser. You pretended that the horse belonged to a young girl when it did not. This was undoubtedly to disguise your dealing status."

The first charge Vinson admitted was that 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.

She further pleaded guilty to selling Derek  between April 3 and June 30 2012 without disclosing he had prevously behaved dangerously and that between April 1 and June 30 2012 she failed to disclose when selling Derek  and a horse called 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 Linda 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.