A MOTHER who defrauded a Worcester-registered horse charity of more than £12,500 has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Margaret Lawrence, former treasurer of the Appaloosa Horse Club had already admitted one count of fraud by abuse of position when she appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced.

The club was formed in February 2000 to promote and preserve the American horses which are believed to have been captured from Spanish settlers in the 17th century before being bred by the Nez Perce, indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest of the US.

The 54-year-old, who had been of previous good character, was made treasurer of the charity, registered in Sansome Walk, Worcester.

Lawrence of Kingfisher Drive, Cheltenham, who still works in Worcester, was convicted of the offence at Worcester Magistrates Court on May 4.

The court heard that she had been made treasurer of the club in April 2012, using her position to obtain £12,598.

A number of payments were made to her husband, daughter and landlord.

Michael Conry, prosecuting, said irregularities came to light when the accountant struggled to get appropriate records from the overdue charity accounts.

When confronted by directors, Lawrence admitted what she had done, saying she was ill at the time and would 'make it right'.

Mr Conry said: "She said she was very sorry and would repay what she owed."

When interviewed by police she said 'I did abuse my position', telling them she was struggling with personal debt and caring for children, one of whom was disabled and her marriage was breaking down at the same time.

Lawrence has since sold her horse box, raising most of the £12,000 needed to pay back the charity which Mr Conry said had meant less impact on the club.

A probation officer who interviewed Lawrence said she had lost her job, leaving her feeling alone and struggling financially and that she had felt 'some level of desperation' and that the fraud was 'her only option'.

The relationship with her husband has now completely broken down though they still live together.

She cares for her 31-year-old son who has learning difficulties. Lawrence earns £14,000 a year net working in Worcester but has been declared bankrupt.

She told the probation officer she was 'ashamed', 'absolutely mortified' and 'truly sorry'.

Jason Patel, defending, said Lawrence had entered a timely guilty plea in the lower court and was 'extremely fearful of the outcome of proceedings'.

Mr Patel said Lawrence had received a lifetime ban from being involved in the charity. The horses she has are of the Appaloosa breed so it had already had an effect on her, he told the court.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright, sentencing, said: "You were the treasurer of the Appaloosa Horse Club and you took £12,598 of their money by siphoning it off for your own use.

"Some went to your husband, some to your daughter and some to your landlord and you falsified the accounts to hide what you had done."

He added: "It is an aggravating feature that, by transferring money to your husband, daughter and landlord you brought them into your criminal offending."

He balanced that against her previous good character and 'genuine remorse', offering her a third discount in the sentence for her early guilty plea.

Judge Cartwright handed her a 12 month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, ordered her to complete 130 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £420.

A victim surcharge will also have to be paid which will be calculated administratively.