THE DUG DEALER
Convicted criminal may be forced to demolish £180k kennel complex amid fears serious drug runner is moving into large-scale puppy breeding
A DRUG dealer turned dog breeder has run into trouble with planning bosses over his £180,000 kennel complex.
Scott Bennett claims he wants to build a “respectable family business”. But a source said: “How could a guy who recently did a jail term for drug running be considered a fit and proper person to carry out a licensed trade that deals with the public?”
A CONVICTED drug runner has built a massive kennel complex as he tries to make a career move into puppy breeding.
Scott Bennett, 37, was jailed for 15 months after he was caught with 6kg of cannabis in his car in 2015.
After his release, he erected the £180,000 deluxe kennels without planning permission at the posh farmhouse where he lives in Strathaven, Lanarkshire.
He is seeking retrospective permission for the development but has been told he has no chance of getting approval because of the “industrial” scale of the building.
The Record understands that a summit meeting was called at South Lanarkshire Council amid fears that a serious drug dealer was moving into largescale puppy breeding. It was attended by licensing bosses, planners and representatives from Police Scotland and the Scottish SPCA.
Bennett claims his criminal days are behind him and that his puppy venture arises from being an animal lover.
We were given details of his drug-dealing past after launching our War on Puppy Farms investigation.
While there is no suggestion that Bennett has committed further offences, the Scottish SPCA, Police Scotland and HMRC are on high alert over known links between crime groups and puppy farming.
The taxman is losing millions in revenue from the undeclared sale of thousands of designer pups, often for more than £1000 a time.
Operation Delphin has already resulted in millions of pounds being targeted in an ongoing tax clawback campaign.
Puppy trading, where cash is commonly used for deals, is also known to open up moneylaundering opportunities for crooks.
A source told the Record: “Scott Bennett is well connected in criminal circles and he has built his farmhouse into a fortress, with CCTV and electronic gates.
“When he got out of jail he set about building up his kennels. He has gotten himself into a planning pickle because his application made him a person of interest for the council – and they decided the kennels were far too large to be considered a domestic facility.
“If he puts in a new business application that will almost certainly be turned down too.
“If he tries to get a licence as a dog breeder or seller, how could a guy who recently did a jail term for drug running be considered a fit and proper person to carry out a licensed trade that deals with the public?”
The council gave Bennett an enforcement notice on March 27, which meant he had 21 days to remove the kennels or put in a valid application.
A business application would cost £3500 and could be doomed to failure, because the kennels block the view of listed buildings from the main road.
Bennett, who was previously busted for cocaine possession, was snared by plain-clothed police officers in a car park next to the Twisted Thistle restaurant in Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire, in 2015.
A search of his van revealed a holdall with six drug packages inside and £3940 hidden within
the dashboard. The cash was seized under proceeds of crime legislation.
Bennett admitted possessing the huge haul of cannabis resin. He claimed in court he turned to drug dealing to pay off debts.
A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council confirmed Bennett has no licence to breed or sell dogs.
He said a drug conviction wouldn’t be considered relevant in considering such licences.
Tory councillor Graeme Campbell, who represents the ward Bennett lives in, has recently been waging war on rogue building projects.
He said: “The building of stables, a road, a large kennel block and CCTV cameras here are some of the worst examples I’ve witnessed in many years.
“They have been built without any regard to the immediate neighbours or this beautiful rural location.
“I believe these kennels have been erected with absolutely no regard to other buildings in their close vicinity. I’m working closely with the council’s planners and environmental services people to come up with a solution as soon as possible.”
Ex-Labour MSP Graeme Pearson, a former top policeman and an expert on organised crime, said: “If you check online adverts for pets for sale and see the kind of cash involved you can see the huge profit available.
“Organised criminals don’t care about what the commodity is – be it drugs, counterfeit tobacco, illicit alcohol or people trafficking… and now puppies.
“That’s not likely to end up in a situation that is good for the pups’ welfare.
“My feeling is that, in general, people who are involved in puppy farms are likely to ignore all the rules. The authorities must step in to ensure the rules apply to everyone equally.”