A MUSIC teacher who made up three knifepoint robberies has been fined a total of £7,000 for wasting police time.

Tracy Frankcom, 42, of Astley Bank, Darwen, admitted making up three separate knifepoint attacks in which she cut her own arms but told police she was being stalked by an Asian robber.

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

Frankcom, who also ran a shop in Deardengate, Haslingden, for 11 years, giving lessons in piano, keyboard, violin and guitar, told the police she had been attacked 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 man as she put the rubbish out at her home on Astley Bank, Darwen.

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

But in March, after extensive inquiries by detectives including evidence from forensic experts on knife wounds, she was arrested and later charged.

Judge Andrew Woolman gave Frankcom a three-year community order for three counts of perverting the course of justice, possession of a stun gun and cannabis. She must pay £5,000 compensation to the police, £1,500 costs to CPS and £500 compensation to a man arrested in connection with her allegations.

Farid Ali, from Bolton, was locked up for 18 hours after an evo-fit put together by Mrs Frankcom and investigators following the second ‘incident’ bore a resemblance to him.

But she failed to pick him out of an identity parade and he was released.

Yesterday, at her home in Astley bank, Mrs Frankcom declined to comment.

DI Mark Winstanley, who led the investigation, said: “We unearthed the truth and the public needs to be aware that if they make malicious reports we will find out and prosecute.

“Her behaviour was a huge drain on resources and had a big impact on the community. The people of Darwen thought a lone female was being stalked by a man with a knife.

“However, if these incidents had been genuine, I’m confident we would have caught whoever was responsible.”