Unlicensed dog breeder banned from having animals

The 62-year-old pleaded guilty at King's Lynn Magistrates' Court

A man has been banned from keeping animals for three years after pleading guilty to breeding dogs without a license.

Inquiries revealed Paulo Esteves, 62, had made £17,500 between 2022 and 2023 by selling litters of puppies to members of the public.

King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council investigators found German shepherds with health problems and a dog that needed to be with her pups.

Esteves, formerly of Elm High Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and pay £4,000 in costs at King's Lynn Magistrates' Court.

Cabinet member for licensing Jim Moriarty said Esteves had obstructed investigators during a search in August 2023.

"When the warrant was executed he attempted to hide one of the seven mobile phones seized in his microwave," Mr Moriarty said.

"He ignored earlier warnings that he required a license to carry out his business and needed to look after the wellbeing of his dogs."