Unlicensed dog breeder made £100,000 selling puppies online

Marc Jones, a delivery driver from Carmarthenshire, was found guilty of running an unlicensed dog breeding business that earned him £100,000. He sold puppies online through platforms like Gumtree and Pets4Homes, using multiple email addresses to advertise. Despite being sent licensing paperwork by the local authority, Jones failed to comply with the legal requirements for dog breeding in Wales, which mandate a license for those with three or more breeding bitches or selling more than three litters annually.

The court acknowledged that Jones had no prior convictions and described him as industrious. However, his actions were deemed deceptive, as all advertisements linked back to his home address and mobile number. Judge Huw Rees issued a 12-month conditional discharge and a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act, requiring Jones to repay the £100,000 within three months or face a year in prison.