A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Shropshire man who has been convicted in his absence of animal welfare offences relating to the operation of a puppy farm.
Luke Raymond Gillman, previously of Arleston Brook, Telford, was due to appear at Telford Magistrates’ Court on Friday 13 August but failed to attend.
Magistrates proceeded in his absence and convicted Gillman of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act. A warrant without bail was issued for his arrest so he can be brought before the court to be sentenced.
His co-accused were sentenced last month for fraud and animal welfare offences after the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) launched an investigation into the sale of puppies in the Greater Manchester area in 2017. One was given a two-year prison term, suspended for two years, and the second received six months custody, suspended for 12 months. Both were disqualified from keeping dogs for life and given community orders.
RSPCA officer Kirsty Withnall led the complex investigation which saw police execute multiple warrants, finding 55 dogs and puppies living in poor conditions. She said: “We believe the dogs were being transported from Wales and Ireland to be sold on to unsuspecting members of the public as family-bred pets, many tragically went on to die.
“We found dogs living in dark, cold, filthy conditions, in cramped makeshift pens and tethered outside with rickety old wooden kennels as their only shelter. These dogs were not loved and well cared for, in fact even their basic needs were not being met. Some were underweight and had untreated skin conditions and ear infections.”
The dogs were taken into RSPCA care and many were placed in foster homes. They were signed over to the RSPCA in December 2019 and have since all been rehomed.
Now, the RSPCA is asking the public to help track down Gillman so he can be sentenced. Kirsty added: “These dogs were all living a miserable existence and Gillman has been convicted for his failure to take care of them. Now we want to find him so that he can face justice. If you have any information about where he may be, please contact the police on 101.”