A MUSIC teacher who falsely claimed she was a victim of three knife attacks has pleaded guilty at court.

Tracy Frankcom, 42, of Astley Bank, Darwen, admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice.

She had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a stun gun, bought by her husband Martin for her protection, and cannabis.

Frankcom, who ran a shop in Deardengate, Haslingden, for 11 years, giving lessons in piano, keyboard, violin and guitar, claimed she was a victim of a series of knife attacks by the same offender.

She even told the Lancashire Telegraph that she fought back in one struggle, but experts later revealed the slash wounds were self-inflicted.

She told the police she had been targeted by two males who had attacked her with a knife at her music shop on Bridge Street, Darwen on October 20, 2010.

She then claimed she had been the victim of a similar attack in a car park in Bath Street, Darwen, on November 3.

The third attack was reported on January 22, 2011 when Frankcom claimed she had been approached by the same offender as she put the rubbish out at her home on Astley Bank, Darwen.

She said the man had threatened her and slashed her arm with a knife before she managed to struggle free.

She also claimed she was receiving threatening text messages and letters to her home and shop.

Detectives carried out forensic searches, house to house inquiries and CCTV analysis.

Frankcom was arrested in March this year after police believed she had fabricated the incidents.

Speaking after sentencing, DI Mark Winstanley said: “Frankcom falsely claimed she was a victim of three very serious offences and we put a significant amount of resources into investigating her claims.

“This was a significant drain on police resources and whilst we would always urge all genuine victims to come forward and report incidents to the police, anyone making malicious claims will be dealt with robustly and brought to justice.”

The Frankcoms have performed as Jean-Michelle Jarre tribute act ‘Jarrelook’ and have played at the Guild Hall in Preston.

Frankcom will be sentenced in Janaury.