Gang admits £300,000 cockerpoo puppy fraud
This sort of rural crime is sickening – sorry to upset fellow dog lovers but it shows the kind of distinctive rural issues our communities face. The story tells us:
Three women and a man have admitted fraud in connection with the sale of hundreds of puppies, some of which died or suffered serious health problems.
The prosecution was brought by the RSPCA following a raid at a puppy farm at a traveller site in Essex.
Teresa Wade, 57, Victoria Montgomery, 54, her daughter Roxanne Montgomery, 33 and Tony Hammond, 34, admitted fraud at Basildon Crown Court.
The gang, from Essex and east London, will be sentenced later.
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All four admitted handling about 750 puppies between July 2013 and October 2014.
The court heard the animals were sold for an average of £450 each and the RSPCA estimates the fraud was worth more than £300,000.