Norfolk man jailed and five avoid prison after knowingly selling sick puppies during the pandemic
Michael Rushmer was already banned for life from keeping dogs.
Six people have been sentenced for ‘appalling offending’, after knowingly selling sick puppies to the public during the pandemic.
They appeared at Kings Lynn Crown Court on Friday (31 January 2025), having pleaded guilty to various offences in November 2024.
Michael Rushmer, aged 33, of Low Road, Thurlton was jailed for three years for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, breaching a banning order and possessing criminal property, namely £2960.
Samantha Brown, aged 33, of Norman Close, Thurlton was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and 30 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
Josh Brown, aged 31, of The Dell, Trowse was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years, 15 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, and 100 hours unpaid work for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
Thomas Keeler, aged 36, of Church Road, Alpington was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years, 15 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, and 100 hours unpaid work for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
Jessica Adams, aged 34, of The Dell, Trowse was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years, 15 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, and 100 hours unpaid work for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
Oliver Patiki, aged 32, of Copenhagen Way, Norwich was sentenced to a 12 month community order and 100 hours unpaid work for possessing criminal property, namely £46,000.
In addition to his prison sentence, Rushmer will also be the subject of a Proceeds of Crimes (POCA) hearing.
In late 2020 an investigation was launched following information that Rushmer, who had previously been banned for life from owning, keeping, or otherwise dealing with dogs, was involved in the selling of puppies for profit.
During the investigation, officers discovered a ‘highly organised’ operation between a group of people, all involved in falsely selling over 58 underage puppies with health conditions to members of the public.
Nineteen online adverts were posted between February and June 2021 claiming that puppies being sold by the group were vaccinated and microchipped, and of the appropriate age to be sold (over 8 weeks old). Following the purchase of a puppy, several victims noticed their dogs appeared too small for the advertised age and were quickly taken ill.
Assessments done by veterinarians deemed the claims in the adverts to be false, with the majority of the dogs being full of worms, underage, and not the same breed as advertised.
Multiple warrants were executed on 30 July 2021 and all those present were arrested. Mobile phones, diaries, and bundles of cash were recovered within the properties.
Patiki was absent from the addresses searched that day, and later attended Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for a voluntary interview.
Further investigation found phone and bank evidence of Rushmer, described as the ‘ringleader’ of the group, travelling the country to collect the puppies before delivering them to the properties of Samantha Brown or Jessica Adams, where they would later be sold from. Payment from the purchases would then either be sent between the group members or withdrawn as cash.
Rushmer, Samantha Brown, Josh Brown, Keeler, Adams and Patiki were each charged with offences relating to the operation in June 2024, and all defendants pleaded guilty at Norwich Crown Court in November 2024.
A seventh suspect was arrested during the warrants on 30 July 2021 and charged with fraud by false representation and breach of court order. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court ordered the offences to lie on file. No further action will be taken.
Details of the impact this offending had on families was read aloud in court, with one victim’s personal statement saying that she suffered ‘constant stress and anxiety from the vet bills’. The dogs were described as lethargic, with bloated bellies, full of worms, of uncertain parentage and displaying behavioural issues, such as biting ankles, snapping and charging at the owners.
In another personal statement provided to the court, one victim described the impact of being sold a sick puppy under false pretenses as ‘emotionally and financially strenuous’, whilst another stated that it ‘broke’ the family, and her children were fearful of all dogs for a significant time after.
On sentencing, the judge said that by selling these puppies during the COVID 19 pandemic, a time in which people were meant to come together to endure hardship, the group took ‘shameless financial advantage of emotionally vulnerable people’.
Investigating officer, PC Baldwin, spoke following the sentencing. He said: “This case was significant in the sheer financial, emotional, and mental impact that the victims suffered, and the result is welcomed by all the officers who worked tirelessly on the investigation and case.
“These criminals ran a sophisticated operation that aimed to deceive members of the public for their own gain and profit, and we hope that this sentencing will go some way towards helping the victims to find some justice for the distress they endured.”