CONVICTED (2017) | puppy trader Jaimie Rose Colquhoun, born 21/02/1991, of Roseberry Street, Dundee DD2 2NS – sold animals trafficked from illegal breeders in Ireland before selling them on Gumtree
Jaimie Colquhoun was found guilty of importing dogs from puppy farms in Ireland and selling them online to unsuspecting animal lovers.
The mother-of-three was snared as part of a major multi-agency operation, known as Operation Delphin, which is aimed at combating puppy farming.
She was accused of repeatedly offering animals for sale through trading site Gumtree and meeting buyers in public car parks to carry out sales without a licence.
Colquhoun told investigators that a contact in Ireland she said she only knew as Thomas would text her once a month to tell her what breeds he had available and she would travel as a foot passenger by ferry to the Republic of Ireland to collect a litter.
She would then list them on Gumtree and carry out the transactions in car parks or at her Dundee home.
Breeds sold by Colquhoun included English Bulldogs, Morkies – a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese – and Pugs.
She said she did not have papers for any of the animals nor did she have them checked by vets prior to sale – aside from one which had an eye problem.
The court heard Colquhoun was first interviewed by the Scottish SPCA under caution in August 2015 and told she was suspected of a crime.
But the brazen trader went on to sell more dogs through Gumtree in October that year.
When confronted about that she whined: “I needed money for my rent.”
The trial was told that some of the animals had even been transported from Hungary via a middle man in Hertfordshire.
Colquhoun’s defence lawyer, Ian Houston of Bruce Short solicitors, claimed Scottish SPCA investigators told his client she would be branded “Cruella de Vil” and have dog excrement put through her door by animal lovers if she didn’t help their probe. This was emphatically denied by the animal charity.
Colquhoun pleaded not guilty to three charges on summary complaint of selling animals without a licence so to do.
But she was convicted of carrying on a business of selling animals at Pleasure Land in Arbroath and in the car park of Morrisons, Dundee, as well as “keeping a pet shop without a licence” at her home in Dundee between January 1 2014 and July 13 2015.
Sheriff Gregor Murray imposed a community payback order with 250 hours of unpaid work and said the maximum jail term he could impose — three months — would not be enough punishment.
But he could not impose an order banning her from keeping animals because legislation that would allow him to do so is not yet in force.
He said: “You became involved in selling dogs in an unregulated fashion purely to make money.
This forms part of a trade which, if not regulated, can cause cruelty to animals. Conduct such as yours encourages others to breed and supply such animals.”
A spokesman for the Scottish SPCA said: “Whilst we’re disappointed that she did not receive a ban we do welcome the fact that she has been dealt with by the court.
“We currently feel sentencing for animal abuse is very inconsistent in Scotland and we would like to see an increase in the maximum jail sentence which would provide the sheriff with a greater range of options.”
Sentencing: community payback order of 250 hours of unpaid work. No ban.
Update May 2019
In May 2019 Colquhoun was convicted in the Welsh courts on four charges of contravening the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order.
In January 2017 Colquhoun was stopped by police at Holyhead Port after she came off a ferry from Ireland. She was found to have seven Pomeranian puppies in a large bag but when asked for the appropriate documents she told officials she didn’t have any.
She was found guilty after she failed to turn up at Caernarfon Magistrates Court for a video link hearing from Forfar Sheriff Court in Scotland.
Magistrates decided to proceed in her absence after being told it was the seventh time the matter had been listed and she had failed to turn up on previous occasions.
Julia Longworth, prosecuting on behalf of Anglesey Council, said Colquhoun was stopped after police saw her carrying a large bag which appeared to be moving.
“She was asked what was in the bag and she said it was her dog”.
Asked to show the dog she produced a dog carrier and a plastic bag. She then said there were four dogs but further examination found seven dogs in the two containers. There were four in the plastic bag and a further three in the dog carrier,” she said.
Ms Longworth said the Pomeranian puppies were in good condition but were “crammed in” and had no water.
“Asked for the dogs’ documentation she said “do they need any”,” she added.
Colquhoun told officers she had collected the animals from a man in County Meath for £1,500 and intended to give them to members of her family.
The pups were given water and Colquhoun was allowed to continue her journey.
Ms Longworth said anyone carrying more than five dogs needs to be authorised to do so under animal welfare regulations.
The court heard a week previously Colquhoun had been spoken to by officers at Holyhead port when she was found to be carrying four Pomeranian puppies from Ireland. Authorisation was not required on that occasion.
Finding her guilty of the charges the magistrate said: “Legislation is in place to protect animal welfare. The defendant breached the regulations knowingly and the penalty reflects that.”
Colquhoun was fined £1,000 on each charge and ordered to pay £889 in costs.