Director told to pay £15,560
A HORSEBOX manufacturer who took thousands of pounds from customers has been ordered to pay £15,560 to compensate her victims.
Claire Wales (42), a director of Highbarn Horseboxes Ltd, Hall Farm, Beachamwell, admitted three charges of dishonesty and one of theft at Norwich Crown Court in June.
The court was told her first victim, Robert Horton Smith, paid 10,000 for a horsebox and two others paid 10,800 and 9,600 in similar deals.
Thousands of pounds was also owed to other customers and when they chased their orders they were told work was progressing well when it had not started on any of them.
During the earlier hearing the court heard there had been no intention to steal the money. Instead it had been a form of "unauthorised borrowing" and Wales had got into a financial muddle.
She was sentenced to a year in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete unpaid work for the community.
Wales returned to court on Tuesday for a confiscation order hearing when it was decided 15,560 had to be paid under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The money will be used to compensate one victim of the 12,400 he lost, plus inflation.
Wales was given six months to pay and was told she would be jailed if she failed to do so.
The court heard she had paid back two of the customers and supplied a horsebox to another.
It was also told she now runs a new company called Highbarn Equestrian which was doing well and would finance the order.
Malcolm Savory, representing her in court, said: "Her new business is repaying substantial debts from the other business and she should have no difficulty in paying."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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