UPDATE FROM CANNOCK CHASE DISTRICT COUNCIL

A married couple from Hednesford have been sentenced to 22 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for their involvement in running a puppy farm after an investigation by Cannock Chase Council.

Ian Wilson and Susan Wilson, of Mount Street in Hednesford, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on 22 September 2025 for sentencing.  The court heard that 60 dogs were rescued after environmental health officers, supported by police, dog wardens, the Dogs Trust and a veterinary team executed a warrant at their small two-bedroom semi-detached home in October 2019.

Despite having previously been warned about breeding and selling dogs without a licence, the Wilson’s continued to run the puppy farm for financial gain.  Environmental health officers found the Wilson’s had placed adverts for 425 dogs between 2017 and 2019 that had an estimated sales value of £105,000.  The court heard that the Wilson’s used false names and addresses to setup multiple accounts to create advertisements with multiple online market places, in order to attempt to evade detection. A search of their home revealed the presence of incubators and unlicenced hormone drugs used to increase the breeding output of the dogs in order to increase their profits.  The dogs were kept in cramped and rancid conditions, with no attempt being made to care for their health and wellbeing.

Amongst the 60 chihuahua’s and German shepherd’s, 4 litters of puppies were found.  Once the dogs were taken into care, within a short space of time 3 more litters were born and other dogs were confirmed as being pregnant.  The court heard of one particular example, where Ian Wilson had driven to Wales to obtain a German Shepherd from an owner who had short term difficulties in caring for her. The Wilson’s had told the owner a series of lies about how the dog would be part of their family, how it would be cared for and how it would spend time enjoying long walks on Cannock Chase. The horrifying reality was very different .  During the raid, the dog was found lying in faeces and urine. The length of her nails suggested she had never left the house in the eight months she had been held there.  Instead, the Wilsons had effectively imprisoned her in a small internal enclosure and had used her to breed puppies for them to sell. 

The Wilson’s had also sold multiple puppies that were infected with parvovirus, some of which had died.      

Ian Wilson had previously pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading, false representation fraud and money laundering.  Susan Wilson pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading.  The sentencing judge noted that neither had shown any remorse for their criminal conduct which had been motivated by greed. In addition to being sentenced to 22 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, both were ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation activity days and were to be subject to a curfew between the hours of 22:00 hours and 07:00 for a period of 3 months. A Criminal Behaviour Order for 3 years was made against both Susan and Ian Wilson and prohibiting them from being involved directly or indirectly in the breeding, boarding, rehoming or sale of any dog and/or the advertising of same via any media.

Following the sentencing, Councillor John Preece, Portfolio Leader for Environment and Climate Change, said “This was the worst case of animal neglect our environmental health officers have encountered.  Motivated purely by greed, Ian Wilson and Sue Wilson went to great lengths to mask their offending and to deceive the people they sold the dogs to.  The only good story to come from this is that every dog was successfully rehomed and, 6 years on, are in loving homes.  We really have cracked down on this activity in Cannock Chase district but no doubt there are more unlicensed breeders and sellers out there.  To anyone involved in this despicable activity – it’s only a matter of time until our environmental health officers are putting your door through next."