A Dundee woman who imported for sale puppies which the SSPCA said had been cruelly farmed has avoided a jail term.
Jaimie Colquhoun was found guilty at Forfar Sheriff Court of doing deals in a Dundee supermarket car park and at Arbroath seafront after being snared as part of a major multi-agency operation aimed at combating puppy farming.
On Thursday she was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work under an 18-month Community Payback Order.
During the trial, the 26-year-old, of Dunholme Road in Dundee said she had been offered immunity from prosecution if she went undercover to expose those involved in the evil trade but she declined, despite claiming a refusal would see her branded as “Cruella de Vil”.
Colquhoun travelled as a ferry foot passenger to Ireland to buy litters of pups from a man she knew only as Thomas.
She brought the dogs back in carriers and then offered them for sale online through the likes of the Gumtree website, but as a result of her illegal activities came to the attention of agencies involved in SSPCA-led Operation Delphin.
The offences took place in 2015 involving a variety of breeds including English Bulldogs and cross breeds.
She has since told The Courier she knew who she was collecting them from but refused to reveal who it was.
Defence solicitor Ian Houston said Colquhoun had been subjected to “a great deal of harassment and abuse” as a result of the matter.
Sheriff Gregor Murray said he was imposing the CPO as a direct alternative to prison.
“Your actions form part of a trade that involves cruelty to animals,” he said.
For the full story see Friday’s edition of The Courier.
