Lifetime ban for illegal puppy trader Christopher Gorman

A man who caused the unnecessary suffering of dogs in his care has been given a lifetime ban on keeping animals and a £2,600 fine.

Christopher Gorman, 54, was found guilty of allowing the death of a puppy in his care and repeatedly striking dogs with a large piece of wood.

The offences happened in June 2016, at his home in Plains, North Lanarkshire.

The unlicensed pet shop owner's conviction follows a Scottish SPCA investigation.

Gorman was found guilty of three charges under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act at a hearing in September.

Piece of wood

Airdrie Sheriff Court heard that on 3 June 2016, a witness heard a large pack of dogs barking aggressively in the rear garden of his home.

The witness filmed Gorman repeatedly striking the dogs on the body with a piece of wood and then contacted the Scottish SPCA, which was granted permission to carry out a search of the premises.

A large number of dogs were found in the garden with no form of segregation. The conditions were described as filthy, with large quantities of faecal matter over a significant area of the rear garden.

Christopher Gorman had already been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after being found guilty of 10 animal abuse offences earlier in the year

During the search, two mastiff puppies were found lying beneath a radiator in a room next to the kitchen.

One of the puppies was dead and the other had to be put down. A post-mortem examination concluded that one of them had died from canine parvovirus.

'Terrible suffering'

Sara Shaw, head of the wildlife and environmental crime unit, said: "This was a case of widespread and indiscriminate neglect and the dogs in Gorman's care were caused terrible and unnecessary suffering with Gorman failing to provide them with a suitable environment or adequate care.

"We expect the highest standards of commercial dog breeders and are committed to working with the Scottish SPCA and the police to ensure that those who do not meet these standards are held to account."

Gorman had been banned from keeping animals for 10 years at a court hearing relating to another case in July. He is also subject to a six-month restriction of liberty order relating to that case.

An undercover Scottish SPCA Inspector said Gorman had a "long history" of maltreating dogs in his care.

"This case has highlighted his ongoing cruelty and we're delighted that he has been dealt with by the courts", he said.

"The mastiff-type puppies were suffering from parvo virus which is an excruciatingly debilitating illness which can, in some cases, result in death.

"To not seek veterinary treatment for these pups despite their obvious distress shows Gorman's priorities lay entirely in the profit that could be gained from selling on puppies to naive new owners, rather than in the welfare of the dogs."