Three cleared of illegal dog breeding and fraud

Three people have been found not guilty of illegal dog breeding and fraud after the prosecution offered no evidence against them.

One of the three, Euros Davies, 61, from Cwmsychpant, is the member for Llanwenog on Ceredigion County Council.

Euros Davies, along with Rhydian Davies, 29, from Prengwyn and Delyth Mathias, 30, from Cardiff, previously pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

In December, Thomas John Jones, 28, pleaded guilty to participating in a fraudulent dog breeding business between March 2015 and November 2023.

Prosecuting barrister Owen Edwards KC told Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday that the business was worth about £1m, with profits nearing the same amount.

But he said the case against Euros Davies, Rhydian Davies and Mathias had been "carefully considered" and it had been decided to offer no evidence.

The three were formally found not guilty by Judge Huw Rees.

Neither Euros Davies nor Rhydian Davies commented as they left court.

The case was brought by Ceredigion County Council and led by its trading standards team.

The authority said it had considered legal advice and reviewed the case before deciding against presenting evidence against the three.

The former winner of S4C's Cân i Gymru singing contest, Sara Pritchard Davies, has also pleaded not guilty to fraud related to illegal dog breeding, and will face trial on 9 November.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Ellen Bailey, 31, from Llangrannog, pleaded guilty to "making an article in the commission of fraud" and providing false information in relation to nine dachshund puppies at Castle House Veterinary Practice.

She will be sentenced at a later date.

Nerys Wyn Davies, 56, previously pleaded guilty to charges relating to illegal dog breeding. The court heard today she had supplied 72 dogs to Jones.

Peter Jones, Cara Barrett and David Bethell accepted cautions in relation to the case.