A dodgy Dartford horse-dealer has been jailed for conning clients out of thousands of pounds by passing off lame and ill horses as healthy.
Karen Ruston, of Maplehurst Close, pleaded guilty to 13 offences that included using alias names, various contact details, false descriptions and acting as a private seller when she was not.
Ruston had been convicted of similar offences at Salisbury Crown Court in 2004 and sentenced to 180 hours of unpaid work.
The horses were sold to Ruston's casualties with false descriptions
Between November 2013 and October 2014 Ruston tricked people into buying her horses in a national publication under false pretences.
The ads referred to the horses as being of “wonderful character” and others having “absolutely no health issues”.
Another notice falsely claimed that one animal had been a “family friend for five years”.
More than one victim reported that they were left caring for a horse that needed regular visits and expensive treatments from vets after health issues quickly became apparent.
One of Ruston’s victims was looking for a safe horse for her disabled daughter.
She paid Ruston £4,950 for a horse that the crook had paid £650 for just days before.
The previous seller made it clear that the horse had navicular syndrome - a precursor to lameness in the front legs - but Ruston failed to mention this in the resell.
Ruston pleaded guilty to 13 offences in total
Another of Ruston’s victims was suffering from cancer and was assured that the horse she was buying was safe with a relaxed nature.
However, due to distance the buyer was unable to see the horse before the purchase day but was told she could send the horse back within a month if something was wrong.
When the victim tried to contact Ruston – who sold the horse under a different name - there was no response.
The victims were asked to meet Ruston at a pub in Ash Road, Sevenoaks and then asked to follow her to the stables.
Horse transporters were directed either to the same pub where the horses were then brought to them or to an alternative Dartford address.
Ruston was sentenced to six months in prison at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday (March 15).
She was also ordered to forfeit £6,000 in savings as compensation.
Ruston pleaded guilty to 11 offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and two offences under the Horse Passport Regulations 2009 in a case brought by Kent County Council Trading Standards.
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