Businesswoman Emma O’Shea has been accused of conspiring with her boyfriend to commit insurance fraud after he allegedly masterminded a raid on her townhouse in Portsmouth, The Times reported.
On March 20, 2022, Ryan allegedly hired two associates, Matthew Lowden and Gary Cleeve, to burglarise his girlfriend’s house in Portsmouth, where “high value” jewellery, designer handbags and cash worth £350,000 were stolen.
Ryan and O’Shea had been living together in her house since they struck up a relationship in 2021. He and his associates were arrested in April 2022 for burglary.
However, the prosecution is now alleging that O’Shea worked with her boyfriend in defrauding her insurance company. O’Shea allegedly discussed with Ryan about a window being open during the raid – and that it had not been smashed.
As the insurance company would not pay out unless there had been forced entry, the couple allegedly agreed to smash a window.
The prosecution also alleged that O’Shea had deliberately caused the case against her boyfriend to collapse by travelling to Barbados during his trial to avoid giving evidence against him. She is also being accused of intimidating her housekeeper, Wioletta Krol, from giving evidence. Krol allegedly heard the couple discussing the open window and their plan to smash it so it would look better for the insurance company.
O’Shea was arrested on Aug. 7, 2023, and is currently on trial at Portsmouth crown court for conspiracy to commit fraud, perverting the course of justice and attempted intimidation, allegations which she denies. She also said that she does not believe that Ryan is involved in the burglary.
Meanwhile, O’Shea’s mother, Sarah, is also being accused of perverting the course of justice by allegedly telling her daughter to stay outside the UK while Ryan’s trial is ongoing. She had also allegedly been communicating with Ryan while he was in custody and relaying information to her daughter in Barbados. Sarah denies the allegations.
