Pack of aggressive dogs found living among faeces at cruel owner’s home
AN UNLICENSED puppy farmer has been given a lifetime ban on keeping animals.
Millionaire Christopher Gorman was also fined £2600 for allowing the death of a young dog in his care and repeatedly hitting others with a large piece of wood.
The 54-year-old, who kept mastiff dogs on his property near Airdrie, was found guilty of three charges under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 last month.
Complaints were made about the conditions at his home in Plains after a neighbour heard a large pack of dogs barking aggressively in his garden and filmed Gorman lashing out with a stick.
Scottish SPCA officers raided Gorman’s property in June last year.
A large number of dogs were found in the garden with no form of segregation and were running about fighting.
The conditions were described as filthy, with large quantities of faeces over a significant area of the rear garden.
During the search, two mastiff puppies were found lying beneath a radiator in a room beside the kitchen.
One of the pups was dead and the other had to be put down.
A post mortem found that the dead pup had canine parvovirus, which is spread through contact with faeces.
Gorman appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court where he was given the lifetime ban.
It also that emerged Gorman is appealing a July conviction for animal cruelty that saw him banned from keeping them for 10 years.
Sara Shaw – head of the wildlife and environmental crime unit, who are in charge of prosecuting all crimes against animals – said: “I welcome the conviction and sentence of Christopher Gorman.
“This was a case of widespread and indiscriminate neglect and the dogs in Gorman’s care were caused terrible and unnecessary suffering.
“We expect the highest standards of commercial dog breeders and are committed to working with the Scottish SPCA and the police to ensure that those who do not meet these standards are held to account.”
Gorman has a portfolio of rental properties valued at £1.2million and is now facing a proceeds of crime probe by prosecutors who believe he has profited from dealing in animal misery.
He also reportedly faces a six-figure tax demand from HMRC.