An illegal dog breeder and dealer from Suffolk has been jailed and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
Jamie Wilkinson, of Foxglove End, Leiston, was sentenced to 26 weeks behind bars at Suffolk Magistrates' Court last Friday.
It follows the 33-year-old pleading guilty to breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs, without a licence, on nine separate occasions between October 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021.
The prosecution was brought under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in September 2021.
Fiona Quinn, head of environmental services and port health at East Suffolk Council, said: “The breeding of dogs is quite rightly subject to a number of regulations aimed at protecting the welfare of animals. We keep a list of recognised licensed breeders on our website for anyone considering buying a puppy.
“East Suffolk Council takes seriously any reported breach of the Animal Welfare Act. We will investigate reports of unregulated activity and, where appropriate, seek prosecution.
“We thank all responsible owners and hope that this sentence serves as an example of the consequences of endangering the welfare of animals.”
Wilkinson received a 20-week sentence for the animal welfare offences, with an additional six-week consecutive term and a further two-week concurrent sentences for offences including failing to provide a specimen for testing when required.
He faced no separate penalty for further separate offences of criminal damage and obstructing a police constable in the execution of their duties.
Wilkinson was banned for 10 years from keeping animals, and from any other licensable animal activity, under sections 34 and 42 of the Animal Welfare Act
In addition, the 33-year-old received a two-week concurrent jail sentence for breaching sections 33(1)(a), (60) and (8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by failing to pay a fine imposed by East Suffolk Council for dumping three large cardboard boxes, several grey cube storage boxes and a black binbag (pictured) in High Street, Leiston, on 19 May 2021.
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