Cruel fraudsters who sold sick puppies to pay for high end cars and Mediterranean holidays have been locked up. Kelly Bennett and Stacey Hayward sobbed in the dock as they received jail term of 36 months and 47 months respectively.
A third defendant, Ricky Bennett, 41, was also imprisoned for 36 months. Their convictions came after an RSPCA and local authority investigation which was first launched in 2019.
As reported by Essex Live, complaints had been made about dogs being sold with severe illnesses. Some of the puppies sold to unsuspecting families later died from conditions such as parvovirus.
Summarising the case to Basildon Crown Court in Essex, prosecutor Hazel Stevens said the case covered 36 dogs that were fraudulently sold as "homebred" puppies. Of these animals, 31 became sick, and nine died.
Ms Stevens shared how Kelly Bennett had bred her own bitch "back to back", with "no thought for her welfare" and no medical treatment from the vets. She said it was simply "a breeding exercise for profit".
It was also revealed that Kelly Bennett had gone on a holiday to Jamaica and left her heavily pregnant dog with a friend. Several more sad stories were heard in court.
These included the experiences of a family who bought a shih tzu puppy from Hayward. The puppy would not eat or drink and suffered diarrhoea, at one point collapsing.
Ms Stevens said: "She returned the puppy to Hayward who claimed there was nothing wrong with it. They were extremely distressed as it was the first time they had bought a dog.
"Another puppy was described as terrified it ate so quickly it was almost choking. Another puppy suffered vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding. [They] responded and said she should give her boiled chicken and not take them to the vets."
Bennett, 44, of Weymouth Drive, Chafford Hundred, and Hayward, 41, of Clifford Road, West Thurrock, cried as the details of their shameful operations were read out in court. Along with Ricky Bennett they had admitted fraud and acquiring criminal property.
Kelly also indicated guilty pleas for two offences under the Animal Welfare Act. Her partner Ricky was additionally sentenced for separate assault, criminal damage and money laundering charges, the former where he had physically attacked her and his children while high on cocaine.
Judge Shane Collery branded their operation "cynical and calculated". He said: "It was to deceive buyers that they were buying fit, home-bred animals, which they were not."
He said they were "puppy farm bred animals" adding the breeders had to know that these were "emotional purchases" with some buyers present with children. He added: "The emails exchanged [with customers] showed a blythe disinterest.
"The use of puppy farmed animals increased your profits and I am satisfied that was your main concern. You lived the high life with high end cars and Mediterranean holidays.
"Covid increased your market. Puppy farm prices went up but so did your profits."
The judge touched upon the removal of Hayward's licence to sell puppies due to how many were reported sick. But she "didn't get the message" as she continued to sell them and that they were all reluctant to take dogs to the vets because it would cost them.
The judge also remarked on how Hayward, despite not having a child for the past 11 years, chose to conceive with an impending trial ahead of her. He said it was "hard to ignore" the possibility that the pregnancy could have been used "as a device" in the proceedings.
Speaking after the case, Inspector Vikki Dawe, from the RSPCA’s SOU team, said it is a "heartbreaking reality" of puppy farming that "the welfare of the puppies comes second to making money." She added: "The sums of money involved are just eye-watering.
"And it's another reminder of how unscrupulous this trade can be; and how dangerous poor breeding and trading practices are for dogs, pups and unsuspecting consumers. For anyone looking to buy a puppy, rather than adopt, we urge them to do their research, know the signs of an unscrupulous breeder and use tools such as the Puppy Contract to avoid becoming another victim of the puppy trade."
Steven Foster, 42, of Colliford Road, will be sentenced for the same fraud charges on November 10.
