A WOMAN who forged a diamond ring valuation to get £13,300 from her insurers has avoided jail.

Paula Cochrane, 41, of Daniel Way, Silver End, said she had lost the ring and got compensation from Aviva.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard Cochrane had already claimed for the loss of the same ring in 2011, from an address in Ford Street, Dedham, receiving £9,950 from Axa.

No criminal proceedings have been brought for the first claim.

Civil proceedings have been launched by Aviva to try to recover the money for the second claim.

The court heard Cochrane, using various names, made her first claim in May 2011.

It is not clear if the original £9,950 valuation from the same pawnbroker for a diamond engagement ring was genuine, but Judge David Turner, QC, poured scorn on the idea she ever lost it.

In December, 2012 she and her partner set up an insurance policy for the address in Silver End.

That December 17, she called Aviva tomake sure the ring and a Cartier watch, worth an alleged £6,500, were included.

The policy started five days later.

On January 18, 2013, she claimed to have lost the ring and the policy paid out.

It was then discovered the pawnbroker had closed when the valuation was supposed to have been made and the value had increased. Cochrane admitted changing the date and value.

She apologised to the court on Monday.

Judge Turner said: “I suspect you claimed dishonestly to have lost the ring.

“It is a lot of money. It is not a victimless crime.

“You have tried exactly the same thing as before and that may need to be investigated.

“I would dearly love to force you to repay the money, but that is unrealistic in the circumstances.”

Cochrane was jailed for four months, suspended for two years, after admitting forgery.

She was also ordered to carry out 250 hours’ unpaid work in the next 12 months, will be supervised.

Cochrane must also pay £800 costs.