Leigh Hancock, formerly of Lydney, but now of of Old Dry Arch Cottages, Ross-on-Wye, was turning out ’conveyor belt puppies’ which were in poor condition when he sold them, Gloucester crown court court heard.

The court heard Hancock ’blitzed’ social media with adverts for puppies that were purportedly the result of ’accidental pregnancies,’ but were in fact from his ’puppy farm’ at the back of his former home in Rodley Road, Lydney.

Hancock admitted placing 60 advertisements between July 2016 and March 2017 which implied the pups he was selling were from a family home.

He also admitted withdrawing £23,134.56 of ’criminal property’ from his bank on 29th March, 2017 when authorities executed a search warrant at his address and he became aware they were there.

Recorder Browne imposed an immediate nine month jail term.

“You removed £23,134.56 in a series of transactions in order to defeat the ends of justice," the judge said.

“There may have been bills to pay, but it is entirely apparent you were trying to hide it from justice. On any view custody threshold has been crossed.

“The background is that you had been running an illegal puppy farm for a substantial period, suggesting they had been born and brought up in your home.

“You said they were socialised with humans, children and other dogs. In reality, they were born and kept in cages behind your house. A very different proposition from what you advertised.”

Alongside the jail term, the judge imposed an £1,800 fine for the nine Trading Standards offences.