York Council has worked with the local police to safeguard horse insurance customers from an unscrupulous fraudster.
Brooke Lee has been given a suspended prison sentence after the local authority's Animal Health Service investigated a number of complaints relating to the trading of horses.
Lee pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and one of unfair trading and was handed the nine-month term at York Crown Court.
She sold a horse at a livestock market for almost £2,000 despite the fact she knew that the creature was lame.
Other horse insurance customers had their horses taken off their hands in the belief the animals would be rehomed, but at least one was sold and sent to slaughter.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Matt Boxall, York Council's trading standards manager, said: "Miss Lee tricked people into giving her their horses."
"The lies she told led the owners to believe they were doing the right thing for their animals," he added.
Equine insurance customers would do better to contact World Horse Welfare or a similar charity if they are looking for support taking care of their animals.
