Ceredigion councillor acquitted of illegal dog breeding and fraud in Swansea

Three defendants, including a Ceredigion county councillor, were found not guilty after prosecutors offered no evidence. A fourth had earlier pleaded guilty.

Ceredigion councillor acquitted of illegal dog breeding and fraud in Swansea

Three cleared as prosecution drops case in £1m dog breeding fraud

Three people, including a Ceredigion County Council member, have been formally acquitted of illegal dog breeding and fraud after the prosecution offered no evidence against them, bbc.com reports.

Euros Davies, 61, from Cwmsychpant — who represents Llanwenog on Ceredigion County Council — was among those cleared at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday. The other two defendants were Rhydian Davies, 29, from Prengwyn, and Delyth Mathias, 30, from Cardiff. All three had previously pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting barrister Owen Edwards KC told the court the fraudulent dog breeding business had been worth approximately £1m, with profits close to the same figure, covering the period from March 2015 to November 2023. He said the case against the three had been "carefully considered" before the decision was taken to present no evidence. Judge Huw Rees formally returned not guilty verdicts.

Neither Euros Davies nor Rhydian Davies made any comment as they left court.

The case was brought by Ceredigion County Council and led by its trading standards team. The authority said it had reviewed the matter and taken legal advice before deciding not to proceed against the trio.

Thomas John Jones, 28, had separately pleaded guilty in December to participating in the fraudulent breeding business. Nerys Wyn Davies, 56, also previously pleaded guilty to charges related to illegal dog breeding; the court heard she had supplied 72 dogs to Jones. Peter Jones, Cara Barrett and David Bethell accepted cautions in connection with the case.

Rebecca Ellen Bailey, 31, from Llangrannog, pleaded guilty to making an article in the commission of fraud and providing false information regarding nine dachshund puppies at Castle House Veterinary Practice. She is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Sara Pritchard Davies, a former winner of S4C's Cân i Gymru singing contest, has pleaded not guilty to fraud related to illegal dog breeding and is set to face trial on 9 November.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)