CONVICTED (2018) | Irish travellers Simon O’Donnell, Margaret McDonagh, Edward Stokes, Thomas Stokes, Thomas O’Donnell and Mary McDonagh – all of Hayes, and Daniel Doherty, a practising vet from Iver Heath, Bucks – made millions of pounds from selling sick and dying puppies.
Six members of an Irish traveller puppy farming gang were convicted of fraud and animal welfare offences following a three-year RSPCA investigation into puppy dealing in London and Berkshire. A vet who conspired with the gang by providing certificates which suggested the puppies were healthy and bred locally, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit fraud.
The RSPCA launched ‘Operation Adder’ after receiving a multitude of complaints from members of the public who had bought puppies which had fallen ill and in some cases tragically died.
RSPCA officers estimated the network of dealers were selling puppies for an average of £500 each – making at least £2,548,500 by selling 5,097 puppies during a five-year period – although investigators suspect there were many more.
The gang were most active between 2014 and 2016, before being raided by police and RSPCA investigators. Forensic examinations of mobile phones used to sell the puppies show they were making around £800,000 a year during this period.
On 27 May 2016 RSPCA officers joined Metropolitan Police officers as they executed warrants at four addresses in Hayes: Bedwell Gardens, Bradenham Road, Coldharbour Lane, and Rosedale Avenue.
A further warrant was executed by Thames Valley Police at a property in Tenaplas Drive, Upper Basildon, on 1 February 2017.
During the first warrants, a total of 46 dogs and puppies were found being kept in plastic sheds, outbuildings and garages, or running loose in gardens and yards at the four Hayes addresses. All of these were seized and placed into RSPCA care.
The dead bodies of four Yorkshire terrier puppies were found wrapped in black bin bags scattered around the garden at the property in Coldharbour Lane – thought to be from the same litter. Despite veterinary treatment, four puppies later died from parvovirus.
Three of the bitches, who were pregnant when they were seized, went on to have a total of 16 puppies, although one was still-born.
Nine dogs were later seized from the Berkshire address and taken into RSPCA care.
RSPCA inspector Kirsty Withnall, who uncovered the gang with help from the Metropolitan Police, said: “Four of the gang members are siblings and, together with their partners, launched this network of puppy sellers and dealers in west London, with Edward and Mary Teresa Stokes later continuing to sell dogs from their new address in Reading, Berkshire, while Thomas Stokes went on to sell again from another property in Feltham.
“This was an complex and sophisticated network of organised fraud and cruelty to dogs. This was a complicated and multi-faceted, high volume conspiracy whereby the gang has misrepresented commercial, puppy-farmed dogs imported from abroad as family-bred pets to con members of the public out of money.
“Puppies were illegally imported from southern Ireland before being transported to the defendants’ homes where they were kept in plastic sheds, outbuildings and garages. They were advertised online and sold for between £350 and £650 each.
“The gang were generally dealing with fashionable breeds and designer crossbreeds such as Yorkies, cavapoos and Labradoodles.”
Officers took statements from 83 victims in total, all of whom had bought puppies from the gang at different addresses, having responded to adverts posted online. Twenty-five puppies sadly died or had to be put to sleep due to severe health problems.
“Buyers have had to cover expensive veterinary bills or, tragically, lost their pet as a result of poor breeding, inappropriate transport and inadequate care,” inspector Withnall added.
“We also discovered that the sellers were using lots of different names and aliases as well as changing phone numbers.
“Prospective buyers were led to believe that the puppy they wished to purchase had been born and raised in a loving family home, the mother dog being a family pet. They were provided with paperwork relating to pedigree parentage, health documentation and vaccination certificates, much of which was falsified and did not or could not be shown to relate to the puppy in question.
“When visiting, buyers were usually met by a man, often there were children and a woman present, giving the impression of the ‘family home’ that the puppies were claimed to have been part of. They were also shown bitches claimed to be the mothers but we now know these were stooge dogs bought in to lull buyers into a false sense of security.”
Daniel Doherty, who operates two My Vets surgeries in Uxbridge, west London, conspired with the gang to commit fraud. Evidence showed that 4,689 puppies were taken to MyVet 24/7 by the gang between 23 March 2011 and 10 May 2017 for their first vaccinations, with the vet pocketing at least £75,000.
Convictions/Sentencing
Daniel Doherty, born 28 July 1968, of Wood Lane, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud, was given a 12-month suspended sentence. Following a review of the case by the Court of Appeal on 19 July 2018 under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing scheme Doherty was sent to prison for three years and six months.
Following a retrial which concluded in January 2020, Doherty was sentenced to two years in jail suspended for 18 months. Doherty was released from prison after serving just eight months. He immediately returned to work as a veterinary surgeon at his practice.
Simon O’Donnell, born 23 August 1987, previously of Bradenham Road, Hayes, was convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud, running a pet shop without a licence, and three animal welfare offences. He was sentenced to three years in prison (later increased to four years by the Court of Appeal). He was disqualified from keeping dogs for life. He was also ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.
Thomas Stokes, born 16 May 1992, previously of Coldharbour Lane, Hayes, was convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud offence and one animal welfare offence. He was jailed for three years (increased to four years and eight months by the Court of Appeal). Disqualified from keeping dogs for life. He was ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge.
Thomas O’Donnell, born 27 January 1989, previously of Bedwell Gardens, Hayes, was convicted of four fraud offences and three animal welfare offences. He was handed a two-year jail term suspended for two years. He was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity. He was also disqualified from keeping dogs for life and ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge.
Margaret McDonagh, born 25 September 1990, previously of Bradenham Road, Hayes was convicted of fraud and given an 18-month community order and rehabilitation activity. She was also ordered to pay £85 victim surcharge and given an order which prohibits her from keeping dogs until an application to the court to lift it.
Mary McDonagh, born 15 September 1989, previously of Bradenham Road, Hayes, was convicted of fraud. She was given a 12-month community order. She was also ordered to pay £85 victim surcharge and given an order which prohibits her from keeping dogs until an application to the court to lift it.
Edward Stokes, born 10 December 1982, previously of Rosedale Avenue, Hayes, and later of Tenaplas Drive, Upper Basildon in Berkshire, was convicted of fraud and animal welfare offences. He was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years (increased to four years and eight months in prison by the Court of Appeal). He received a lifetime ban on keeping dogs which cannot be appealed for 10 years.
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Updates
In August 2018 Thomas Stokes had his prison term extended again after he continued to sell unwell dogs while being investigated.
Stokes had moved to Hughenden Road in High Wycombe while under investigation.
His ruse was uncovered when police stopped him in High Wycombe while he was in his car – as part of a separate inquiry – and they found three dogs were found in the boot of his car.
Stokes admitted a further count of fraud by false representation and two animal welfare offences.
His sentence was extended by 27 months, taking his total sentence to six years and 11 months.
Speaking after the latest sentencing, RSPCA inspector Kirsty Withnall said: “It goes to show how much money there is to be made in this trade that people will take the risk and continue selling, despite being investigated.
“Sadly though it’s the animals who pay the price when these dealers fail to put their health and welfare first.”
June 2022: RCVS Sanctions against Daniel Doherty
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee directed that Doherty be suspended from the register for just one month following his conviction for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
The RCVS committee said they had taken into account the circumstances of this case and, in particular, the view of the court that Doherty had been motivated solely by animal welfare concerns and not financial gain, and that it was this overriding concern that had allowed others to exploit his willingness to continue to vaccinate puppies despite their source.
So much for vets and co.