Tewkesbury Borough Council has prosecuted an individual for offences relating to the Fraud Act 2006 for fraudulently advertising puppies for sale.

Sarah Dawes from Bishops Cleeve was alleged to have been breeding and selling dogs from her home address.

In 2020, Dawes advertised puppies on the Pets4Homes website, but because the site had previously banned her from two other accounts, she used the name and address of a friend without the latter's knowledge.

She also fraudulently advertised at least some of the puppies as her well-cared-for family pets. In reality their mother was not owned by Dawes but by a third-party breeder with whom she had agreed to share the money from the sale of the puppies.

A trial commenced on Tuesday, January 3, at Cirencester Court House where Dawes was charged with four counts of fraud by false representation. She pleaded not guilty to the four offences, but was found guilty of three of those offences on Wednesday, January 4.

Dawes received a fine of £900 and costs of £300 were awarded to Tewkesbury Borough Council.

Councillor Jim Mason, lead member for clean and green environment at Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: "I'm very pleased at the successful outcome of this prosecution. The fact that the case involved advertising and selling animals, rather than inanimate goods, makes it particularly abhorrent.

"However, the guilty verdict should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can flout the law with fraudulent advertising.

"We take cases of fraud in any form extremely seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute when appropriate."

The prosecution was undertaken by One Legal (a shared legal service) who worked on behalf of Tewkesbury Borough Council in collaboration with the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CFEU).

Members of the public can contact licensing@tewkesbury.gov.uk or the CFEU at fraud.referrals@cotswold.gov.uk with any concerns regarding animal welfare, licensing or other allegations.