A dog breeder who used three nicknames while illegally selling puppies without a licence has received a suspended prison sentence.

Darrel Evans, of Wellingtonia Avenue, Wokingham, was charged with fraud, unfair trading and trading without a licence.

This followed an investigation by trading standards officers at Wokingham Borough Council.

The officers learned that Evans had been selling puppies online in 2021.

He had no licence as a breeder or seller, and was operating under at least three different aliases.

At Reading Crown Court on June 20, Evans was handed a 15-month jail sentence, suspended for a year and three months.

He has been ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities, and to pay £1,000 in compensation and £1,000 in prosecution costs to the court.

Wokingham Borough Council's assistant director for the environment and safety, Steve Brown, said: "Animal welfare legislation is in place to provide protections for animals and consumers.

"It is important that all businesses and individuals operating and carrying out activity that requires a licence, to ensure that they have obtained one.

"Where we find evidence that this is not been the case, such as this, we will take action to prosecute and protect residents and consumers."