Emma O’Shea faces serious charges after a burglary scheme involving her boyfriend
Portsmouth: A wealthy businesswoman is in hot water after her boyfriend allegedly set up a burglary at her home. Emma O’Shea, 46, is facing some serious charges, including conspiracy to commit fraud.
According to the court, her boyfriend, Dean Ryan, 41, hired two guys to break into her place while they were out. They made off with around £350,000 worth of diamonds, designer bags, and cash in 2022. O’Shea denies all the charges, though.
It gets crazier. After the burglary, O’Shea noticed a window was left open, which could mess up her insurance claim. She and Ryan were overheard by a housekeeper discussing how to smash the window to make it look like the burglars had forced their way in.
Things took another turn when O’Shea allegedly tried to derail Ryan’s trial by skipping town to Barbados. She even intimidated her housekeeper’s family, who were supposed to testify against Ryan. Her mom, Sarah, is also in trouble for advising her to stay away.
Jurors heard that O’Shea was trying to protect Ryan, refusing to believe he was involved. Meanwhile, the two guys who allegedly helped Ryan deny any wrongdoing. The court learned that Ryan moved into O’Shea’s townhouse in Southsea after they started dating in 2021.
The burglary happened on March 20, 2022, while they were out. Prosecutors say it was a well-planned job, with the thieves knowing exactly what they were after. O’Shea found out about the break-in through her Ring doorbell camera.
She called the police and her housekeeper, Wioletta Krol, to check on her home. Krol found ladders propped against the wall and an open window. Later, she overheard O’Shea and Ryan discussing how to make the break-in look more convincing for the insurance company.
Prosecutors say the burglary was targeted, with high-value items taken, including tanzanite diamonds. After the police investigation, Ryan and his accomplices were arrested in April 2022.
Fast forward to July 2023, and O’Shea was supposed to testify in court. Instead, she allegedly tried to intimidate Krol’s family and skipped out to Barbados. She was arrested at Heathrow Airport in August 2023.
The trial is still ongoing, and it looks like it’s going to be a long one.
