A MUSIC teacher accused of telling police that she was the victim of three armed robberies has been charged with perverting the course of justice.

Tracy Frankcom, 41, of Astley Bank, Darwen, said she was the victim of a series of knife-point attacks by the same offender over a three-month period last year.

She received significant knife wounds which she said were the result of all three alleged attacks.

Detectives released an evo-fit of a suspect following the first 'incident' outside her Arietta Music shop in Bridge Street, Darwen, in October.

She told the Lancashire Telegraph that she had been moving instruments into the premises at night when she was 'slashed' during a scuffle with an intruder.

Then two weeks later Mrs Frankcom reported a similar incident in the car park on Bath Street, claiming her attacker was the same man.

And on January 20, police were sent to Mrs Frankcom’s detached home after she rang 999 reporting a third attack while putting the bins out.

Detectives sealed off the scene, made forensic searches and conducted house to house calls and CCTV inquiries.

Mrs Frankcom was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital for treatment to what police described as a ‘nasty, deep cut’.

Mrs Frankcom was arrested in March on suspicion of inventing the attacks and wasting police time.

Police said she was today charged by police with three counts of perverting the course of justice – one count for each allegation of robbery, possession of a stun gun and possession of cannabis.

A substance police believe to be cannabis was found in Tuppaware containers at her premises, officers said.

Mrs Frankcom will appear at Blackburn Magistrates' Court later in the month.

She has run a shop in Deardengate, Haslingden, for 11 years.

She and husband Martin also perform as Jean Michelle Jarre tribute act Jarrelook.

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