Horse lover avoids jail after stealing £8,000 from riding charity

Lifelong horse lover Rachel Smith took money from the Aire Valley Riding Club in Wilsden, Bradford, when her own stables business got into financial difficulties, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Although the 39-year-old was said to have intended to pay back the stolen cash as her finances improved her barrister Nicholas Johnson said her money problems continued and she tried to resolve them by borrowing from the club.

He said Smith initially took 3,000 from the club and did not tell anyone including her mother who was the treasurer.

He told Recorder Bryan Cox QC that the stolen money was simply used to keep her own business, which had been affected by a horse disease, afloat.

The court heard that Smith's business and home were now both up for sale and she had a personal debt of about 26,000.

Mr Johnson said Smith and her family had helped to grow the Aire Valley Riding Club to one which had 200 members.

"She is deeply ashamed of her behaviour," said Mr Johnson.

"She has lost her good character and her standing."

Last month Smith, of Haworth Road, Wilsden, pleaded guilty to a series of fraud charges relating her unauthorised withdrawals of sums ranging from 100 to 3000 from the riding club's accounts.

Smith also admitted taking money raised at a children's gala and a points show held by the riding club.

Aire Valley Riding Club was established 66 years ago and has 16 volunteers on its books.

Recorder Cox told Smith that the offences amounted to a serious breach of the trust reposed in her by members of the riding club.

"The sums of money involved were substantial and this was clearly a course of conduct which went on for a substantial period," he told Smith.

"All these factors make this a serious matter indeed and very close to the threshold where I would have had to consider sending you to prison but I don't think that is necessary."

Recorder Cox said he took account of Smith's prompt admissions and the fact that she had been motivated by her dire financial circumstances in 2008.

"There was no evidence here of high living on the proceeds of what you did," added the judge.

"You committed these offences at a time of stress. You have no previous convictions for anything of this sort and for a person like you I am conscious that there will have been a considerable loss of your own self respect."

The judge made Smith subject to a nine-month community order which

includes a requirement to do 120 hours unpaid work for the community.