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| Kent dealers and vet jailed over sick horse fraud | Kent dealers and vet jailed over sick horse fraud |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two horse dealers and a vet have been jailed for fraud after they colluded to sell ill, dangerous and lame horses to unsuspecting buyers. | |
| Charlotte Johnson and Aniela Jurecka drugged horses and ponies and sold them as suitable for children from farms in Staplehurst and Marden, in Kent. | Charlotte Johnson and Aniela Jurecka drugged horses and ponies and sold them as suitable for children from farms in Staplehurst and Marden, in Kent. |
| The pair recommended vet David Smith, 66, to buyers, who would then give the animals a clean bill of health. | The pair recommended vet David Smith, 66, to buyers, who would then give the animals a clean bill of health. |
| All three were jailed for two and a half years at Maidstone Crown Court. | All three were jailed for two and a half years at Maidstone Crown Court. |
| In many cases the paperwork for the horses was altered, with prices for them ranging from £1,950 to £5,700. | In many cases the paperwork for the horses was altered, with prices for them ranging from £1,950 to £5,700. |
| Officers identified 17 victims of fraud, whose horses had become uncontrollable once the sedatives had worn off. | Officers identified 17 victims of fraud, whose horses had become uncontrollable once the sedatives had worn off. |
| In one instance, a woman was left unable to walk for a year after being thrown from her horse. | In one instance, a woman was left unable to walk for a year after being thrown from her horse. |
| Jurecka, 28, of Prospect Place, Collier Street, in Tonbridge, Johnson, 28, of Tollgate Way, Sandling, and Smith, of The Street, Finglesham, Deal, were convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. | Jurecka, 28, of Prospect Place, Collier Street, in Tonbridge, Johnson, 28, of Tollgate Way, Sandling, and Smith, of The Street, Finglesham, Deal, were convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. |
| They were arrested following a large-scale operation involving Kent Police, Trading Standards and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. | They were arrested following a large-scale operation involving Kent Police, Trading Standards and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. |
| Kent Police said Jurecka and Johnson advertised horses for sale in equestrian publications under the business names of SE Horses and Mid Kent Horses. | Kent Police said Jurecka and Johnson advertised horses for sale in equestrian publications under the business names of SE Horses and Mid Kent Horses. |
| But text messages downloaded by detectives showed the pair were drugging horses to cover up poor behaviour and lameness. | But text messages downloaded by detectives showed the pair were drugging horses to cover up poor behaviour and lameness. |