A St Albans woman has been jailed for running a criminal enterprise that fraudulently imported and sold puppies.

Louise St. John Poulton, 48 - formerly of High Grove, St Albans - used the alias Phoebe Dobbs to sell "designer dogs".

According to the RSPCA, over 400 puppies were sold, many of these dogs were sick.

Herts Advertiser: Over 400 puppies were sold, many of which were sick. Image: RSPCAOver 400 puppies were sold, many of which were sick. Image: RSPCA (Image: RSPCA)

RSPCA investigator Vikki Dawe said: "Poulton and an accomplice worked together to buy in, advertise and sell on puppies which were considered valuable in the market. 

“Over a period of between six months to a year, 59 adverts were placed that we’ve been able to connect to the duo.

"Each advert included an average of seven puppies - so that’s a total of more than 400 dogs.

Herts Advertiser: Many puppies were sold as different breeds, to "maximise profits". Image: RSPCAMany puppies were sold as different breeds, to "maximise profits". Image: RSPCA (Image: RSPCA)

“Poulton is believed to have defrauded the public out of £300,000 by selling these puppies to them as if they were family-bred, home-grown dogs of specific breeds when, in fact, they were neither.”

During raids conducted by the RSPCA and the police - on five properties in London - two adult dogs and six puppies were found.

Texts from Poulton to another woman were discovered on mobiles phones that were seized during the raids.

These conversations detailed which breeds to advertise puppies as, in order to maximise profits.

Herts Advertiser: Poulton is believed to have defrauded the public out of £300,000. Image: RSPCAPoulton is believed to have defrauded the public out of £300,000. Image: RSPCA (Image: RSPCA)

Dawe continued: "We know that Poulton and her accomplice were deliberately misleading the public in order to capitalise on the popularity - and value - of specific breeds by falsely describing puppies as cockerpoos and cavachons.

"One witness bought two dogs - both sold as cockapoos - from the same litter. Now they’re fully grown one is a liver-coloured spaniel and the other is a little, white bichon frise-type.

“Some of the puppies they sold were also very sick and were carrying nasty diseases. One of the pups sadly went on to die. 

“Although they were telling prospective buyers that they had been homebred - even using a male dog as a fake mum - many of the dogs had in fact been imported to be sold on.”

Poulton, charged with one offence of conspiracy to commit fraud, entered a plea of not guilty at Kingston Crown Court in February 2020.

On Monday, October 17, Poulton - who now lives in Spain - was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

An additional four months were added to Poulton's sentence for breaching a previous suspended sentence.