Pair who left puppies dead and dying in a wheelbarrow banned from keeping dogs

A man and a woman who left seven puppies dead and dying in a wheelbarrow have been banned from keeping dogs for life.

John Wilcock, 36, and Bernadette Nunney, 25, were also handed suspended sentences for animal cruelty.

The pair carried out numerous offences against dozens of dogs - many of which were found in squalid conditions at a farm in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

An investigation was launched last year by both the police and RSPCA after members of the public complained they had bought puppies which later became ill.

When authorities raided the farm in September 2015, they seized a large number of dogs and also came across a wheelbarrow full of dead puppies.

Post-mortem examinations found that the puppies had died from parvovirus - a highly contagious viral disease.

Inspectors also found 43 dogs, including collies, spaniels, bichon frises, Labradors, beagles and Chihuahuas among the neglected animals which were then taken into RSPCA care.

One RSPCA inspector described the scene as "heartbreaking".

Wilcock and Nunney were accused of causing unnecessary suffering to the seven puppies and three other dogs and failing to meet the needs of 30 dogs.

Farm manager Wilcock, of Sticker Lane, Bradford, admitted five offences and Nunney, of Tyersal Lane, Bradford was found guilty of six offences after a four-day trial.

They were each sentenced at Leeds Magistrates' Court to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and disqualified from keeping dogs for life.

Nunney was also handed a 12-week curfew order, ordered to complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity, and ordered to pay £500 in costs.