The 32-year-old failed to provide basic care for dogs as they fell ill
A Greater Manchester man has been banned from keeping animals for life after causing suffering to more than 50 dogs in a horrifying puppy farm fraud.
Luke Gillman, 32, of Helsby Road, Sale, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to 55 dogs and puppies after failing to protect them from “pain, injury, suffering or disease”, as well as other offences.
He was convicted after an RSPCA investigation into complaints from pet-owners in Greater Manchester that puppies they bought from Gillman had fallen ill.
The RSPCA launched an investigation, tied to three properties in Greater Manchester and five across Telford, all relating to online adverts for puppies said to be the offspring of family pets.
Beagles, French bulldogs, cavapoos, dachshunds, cocker spaniels and cavalier King Charles spaniels were all sold.
Ian Briggs, Head of the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, which led the case, said: “Gillman was involved in a sophisticated operation and, although he wasn’t the key player or brains behind the scheme, he helped defraud the public out of money while also exploiting dogs.”
Ian added: “The sellers were clever, using different names, addresses, phone numbers and false postcodes as well as falsifying vaccination cards and misleading buyers as to the source, breed, age and health of the puppies.”
West Mercia Police carried out a warrant in November 2018 and 55 dogs were taken into RSPCA care with a further 26 puppies born in kennels.
Analysis of the adverts between November 2015 to October 2018 showed 22 different names were used to advertise 439 puppies with a total sale value of more than £250,000, said the RSPCA.
RSPCA investigators took statements from buyers who had bought 42 puppies – 15 of which sadly died. All of the puppies needed veterinary treatment for different health problems.
The defendant was convicted in his absence four years ago but missed subsequent court appearances and was only sentenced this year after handing himself in, the RSPCA has said.
Gillman, formerly of Telford, Shropshire, was found guilty in his absence in August 2021 at Telford Magistrates’ Court of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
One offence was that Gillman caused unnecessary suffering to a black cocker spaniel by failing to provide veterinary care for a skin condition. Another related to causing the suffering of another cocker spaniel by failing to deal with poor body condition.
He was also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a cavalier King Charles spaniel by failing to get care for her eye condition.
The animal welfare charity says that, as well as the charge relating to the 55 dogs and puppies, Gillman was convicted of failing to protect scores of puppies from pain, injury, suffering or disease by not establishing biosecurity disease control.
He was sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court on 16 April this year, when he received a 26-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and was told to pay £300 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
The justices also ordered Gillman, formerly of Telford, Shropshire, to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity days.
In mitigation, it was said that the defendant had limited responsibility for the dogs and that he was scared of the other participants in the fraud.
