LEIGH HANCOCK'S PUPPY FARM SCANDAL IN MARSTOW AND LYDNEY REVEALED

Leigh Hancock, born February 1984, residing at Old Dry Arch Cottages in Marstow, Ross-on-Wye, has been found guilty of operating a large-scale puppy farming operation that involved the sale of puppies under false pretenses. The case uncovered a disturbing practice where Hancock sold Labrador, retriever, and collie puppies through a series of deceptive advertisements, claiming that the animals came from a genuine family environment.

Between June 2016 and March 2017, Hancock placed approximately 60 advertisements across various platforms, all implying that the puppies were bred and raised in a loving home setting. In reality, these puppies were produced in poor conditions within an adapted shed located at the back of his former residence in Lydney. The court heard that Hancock’s operation was akin to a 'conveyor belt,' with puppies kept in cages and in substandard health, contrary to the wholesome image portrayed in his ads.

Hancock’s advertising tactics included the use of multiple pseudonyms and various email addresses, some even bearing the names of his children, to evade detection by online platforms and authorities. Prosecutor Rosamund Rutter explained that a total of around one hundred advertisements were linked to Hancock, utilizing seven different mobile numbers. The language used in these ads was strikingly similar, with consistent grammatical errors, indicating they were authored by the same individual.

In addition to Hancock, his partner, Kerri Greenhorn, born 21 March 1980 and residing at Northwood Close, Cinderford, was also prosecuted. However, the outcome of her case remains unknown. A woman named Jodie Pitt, a mother of four, was also brought to court for selling puppies on Hancock’s behalf. The court was told that Hancock’s social media presence was heavily populated with posts promoting puppies as the result of 'accidental pregnancies,' which was false. The reality was that these puppies were bred in the back shed of his property in Lydney, where adult dogs were kept in cages.

Authorities discovered adult dogs in Hancock’s backyard, housed within the converted shed, which was used as a breeding and holding area. Despite claims that the puppies were socialized with humans, children, and other pets, inspections revealed that the animals were kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions. The deception extended to claims that the puppies were raised in a family environment, which was far from the truth.

During the investigation, trading standards officers analyzed Hancock’s online activity, uncovering a network of advertisements under various aliases and mobile numbers. The court was told that Hancock had placed these ads to attract unsuspecting buyers, many of whom believed they were purchasing from a genuine family home. Hancock even told one couple that he and his family were 'heartbroken' to give up a puppy, further misleading potential buyers.

Hancock admitted to placing 60 advertisements during the period from July 2016 to March 2017, falsely implying that the puppies were from a family setting. He also confessed to withdrawing over £23,000 in 'criminal property' from his bank account on March 29, 2017, when authorities executed a search warrant at his address and he became aware of the investigation.

Recorder Ben Browne QC sentenced Hancock to nine months in jail and imposed a fine of £1,800. The court also ordered him to pay a confiscation order of £60,436.50, representing the profits he made from his illegal activities. Hancock was given three months to sell his home and settle the amount, with a warning that failure to do so by November 24, 2020, would result in an additional two-year jail sentence.

Hancock’s lawyer, James Tucker, described the financial penalty as a 'disaster,' explaining that the amount owed was equivalent to selling his family home. Hancock, who runs a gardening and landscaping business called Garden Master—co-managed by Kerri Greenhorn and Jodie Pitt—faced the prospect of losing his property, which would leave him with only a modest income as a gardener. The earlier fine of £1,800 was reduced to £450, and he was also ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge.

This case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding illegal puppy farming and the importance of scrutinizing online advertisements for genuine breeding practices. Authorities continue to crack down on such operations to protect animals and consumers alike.