Former international show-jumper Heather Kidd has been convicted of ripping off horse owners by using a substitute stallion to mate with their mares.

Kidd, 30, of The Willows, Cross Roads, broke down in tears at the end of a week-long trial as the jury at Bradford Crown Court returned their guilty verdict on six charges of obtaining money by deception.

The jury spent more than four hours last Friday considering the evidence and convicted her by a majority of ten to two for all the offences.

Kidd was said to have charged six owners up to £500 each to have their mares 'covered' by two of her stallions, Andretti and Desmond, at her Heathlyn stud at Sutton.

Prosecutor Ian West said suspicions were aroused about the foals produced the following year. When blood tests were carried out it was discovered none were fathered by the stallions requested.

Mr West told the jury at the start of the trial: "They didn't get what they asked for."

When arrested and questioned about the allegations in 1996 Kidd insisted the right stallions had been used.

Kidd alleged someone else must have used another stallion with the mares and clai-med former boyfriend and bus-iness partner George O'Shea had a motive because he had threatened to ruin her.

Judge John Cockroft agreed to adjourn sentence on Kidd for at least five weeks after being told she was undergoing surgery on Monday.

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