Millionaire puppy farmers spared jail for neglecting dogs at unlicensed breeding business

Millionaire farmers who made a six-figure sum by committing harrowing crimes against dogs at their breeding business were spared jail over the offences today.

Stephen and Hazel Hamilton were ordered to carry out unpaid work for neglecting four pooches at their unlicensed puppy farm while raking in £100,000.

The sentences were imposed 25 months after they were convicted - in what is believed to be the biggest delay between conviction and sentence in Scottish history.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, Sheriff Nicola Patrick ordered them to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, discounted from 250 hours due to their guilty pleas.

They were also banned from owning or keeping any animals other than their family dog for a period of five years, and were admonished for running the puppy farm without having a breeder's licence.

They will also be supervised by social workers for 12 months and have to complete the unpaid hours of work in the same period of time.

As she spared them prison, Sheriff Patrick said: "You have both pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to take reasonable steps to meet the needs of animals in your care.

"I'm satisfied I can deal with you other than by way of a custodial sentence."

Mark Moir KC, defending Stephen, said the case had cost them £500,000 to date, including nearly £300,000 they had to pay the SSPCA in kennelling fees for the seized animals.

They had both pleaded guilty to three charges - one of causing a protected animal unnecessary suffering, one of failing to meet the needs of an animal, and one of running a puppy farm without a licence.

They court heard 33 animals were seized following a November 2020 raid by the SSPCA and Police Scotland, and that four adult dogs were found to have been neglected.

The german shepherds and lhasa apsos were the dogs used to breed the puppies.

During their illegal breeding operation, the Hamiltons kept the adult dogs in cramped conditions and failed to get them urgent veterinary treatment.

The animals were housed in industrial kennels in different buildings, with dogs left suffering broken nails, dermatitis, chronic dental disease, and painful ear problems.

The dogs were denied adequate exercise and socialisation and the Hamiltons failed to protect them from suffering.

The court heard they were terrified and cowered when approached and had matted fur and overgrown nails.

When asked if he had any comment to make, outside court, Stephen Hamilton said: "Yeah. Lovely day."

Anne Marie Hicks, Procurator Fiscal for North Strathclyde, said: “Stephen and Hazel Hamilton demonstrated an appalling disregard for the well-being of animals in their care.

“Some of these dogs endured terrible cruelty and the conditions they were being kept in were shocking.

“This was a case of indiscriminate neglect where animals were subjected to suffering and pain.”

The SSPCA said it had "worked tirelessly for five years to bring the Hamilton's to justice".

The couple applied for an East Ayrshire Council breeding licence in 2016, after moving to Scotland from Ireland more than 20 years ago.

But the bid to have legal industrial kennels at Newmilns' New Intax farm was knocked back after a public outcry.

Among the objectors were Police Scotland, the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Scottish Government’s Veterinary Advisor on Animal Welfare.

A petition containing 20,000 names of people opposing the bid was also submitted.

But the Hamiltons carried on regardless and were found running a major breeding programme that brought misery to animals.

The court heard previously that Stephen Hamilton has savings and assets totalling more than £1.7million.

The details emerged at a Proceeds of Crime hearing last month, which followed the Hamiltons admitting their guilt over their criminal enterprise.

Stephen agreed he had made £60,000 from the bogus business, while Hazel admitted the "benefit" from her "general criminal conduct" amounted to £40,000.

The "available amount" - from her savings and assets - was said to be "significantly higher than this" and included more than £26,000 which had been held in an overseas account.