Bishop's Cleeve woman convicted for puppy selling fraud

Sarah Dawes, 57 and of Sapphire Close in Bishop's Cleeve, was found guilty by a jury this week of three fraud charges and was ordered to pay almost £1,300 in fines and costs.

Dawes was cleared of a fourth charge on the judge’s legal direction.   

The prosecution said that Dawes opened an online Pets4Homes account in the name of close friend, Fiona Jennings, because the website had twice banned her previous accounts in her own name.

Between February 12 and April 1, 2020, Dawes advertised Miniature Schnauzer and Scottish terrier puppies and falsely claimed the mother of the Scottish terrier pups was her own family pet.

Mark Jackson, prosecuting for Tewkesbury Borough Council, said one customer, Kate Bartram, was keen to buy a Scottish terrier puppy whose mother was 'very sociable and our family pet.'

However, the bitch actually belonged to a breeder and Dawes had agreed to sell its puppies and split the proceeds. 

"As far as Ms Bartram was concerned she was dealing with Fiona Jennings,” said Mr Jackson.

"Ms Bartram bought the male puppy for £900 but when she tried to pay by bank transfer the defendant said she had a problem with her account and asked for payment to be made into an account in her true name."

The case was heard at Cirencester Courthouse (Image: Google Maps)

Mr Jackson went on "Fiona Jennings is a real person. 

“She was contacted by Tewkesbury Borough Council because she was not a licensed breeder or licensed to sell dogs.

“She told them she had never had a dog and she was unaware that anyone was using her details to advertise puppies for sale.

Dawes and Ms Jennings had met while working together at Cheltenham Borough Council.

Dawes initially claimed Ms Jennings knew about her using her name but later said she intended to ask but forgot.

In 2008, Dawes opened a Pets4Homes account in her own name as a breeder but was later banned.

She set up a new account in 2019 with a different address and that was also banned.

When interviewed by the council in November 2021 Dawes said she was selling the puppies on behalf of a breeder, Margaret Davies, who was unwell and claimed she didn’t know she needed a licence.

Mr Jackson told the jury "The adverts she placed were dishonest from the outset and it was dishonesty for profit."

Ms Jennings said she had known Dawes for about nine years and was aware she sometimes sold dogs but had no idea she had used her name.

She denied that Dawes had ever asked to use her name and address to place adverts.

Dawes maintained that she had asked Ms Jennings if she could use her address as a 'pick up point' for the puppies because she worried she might have to go back into hospital, having undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2020.

She accepted she had not asked Ms Jennings if she could use her name. 

The judge, Recorder Andrew Langdon KC, fined Dawes £300 on each of the three charges and ordered her to pay £300 costs and a £90 surcharge.

She must pay the total £1,290 penalty at £100 a month.