A woman who fraudulently told an Ellesmere company that a trailer she had hired was still in her possession has been given a conditional discharge.

Maxine Lane, 35, admitted making a false representation by stating she had possession and control of the trailer and intended to return it, when she appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Tuesday.

Sophie Murray, prosecuting, said during December 2015 and January 2016, Lane sent messages to Paul Martin, of Furlon Equestrian Trailers at Ellesmere, stating she would return it.

But it had apparently been sold by a third party to cover her alleged debt.

Miss Murray said the purchaser was out of pocket because the trailer had subsequently been retrieved by police and returned to the owner.

Judge Anthony Lowe said Lane, of Winchester in Hampshire, and formerly Tarvin, Chester, had got herself into 'a bit of a mess' and her conduct had not been satisfactory and the person who bought the trailer had lost £2,200 by purchasing from a person who did not own it. 

It was accepted by the Judge that Lane did not benefit financially from the sale of the trailer and the hire amount £825 was fully paid.

Lane had also denied three charges of theft - stealing the Ifor Williams trailer, stealing a horse - named Cindy - belonging to Martin Dewar at Mile End, near Oswestry in December 2015 and stealing a Fautras Proban trailer worth £3,400 belonging to Mr Dewar at Beeston Auctions, Tarporley, Cheshire in January, last year. Judge Anthony Lowe recorded not guilty verdicts in each of the three charges and imposed a restraining order on Lane not to have any contact with Mr Dewar and a Victoria Whittaker for the next five years.