A disgraced vet from Iver Heath who helped a gang of puppy dealers make at least £2.5 million selling sick and dying dogs has avoided a jail sentence. 

Daniel Doherty, from Wood Lane, ran two My Vet surgeries in Uxbridge where he signed off paperwork – including fake vaccination cards and health checks – for thousands of puppies, even though he did not know where they were from.

The 49-year-old was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work as well as pay £140 after facing a four-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court for conspiring with a gang of puppy dealers to commit fraud.

He provided fake health check and vaccination cards. Following a three-year investigation into puppy dealing across London and Berkshire, the RSPCA launched Operation Adder after receiving complaints from dog owners who had bought puppies who had fallen ill and, in some cases, tragically died.

Officers estimated the network of dealers were selling puppies for an average of £500 each - making at least £2,548,500 by selling 5,097 puppies over five years - although investigators fear there were more.

Five other gang members were also sentenced.

Officers took statements from 83 victims in total, all of whom had bought puppies from the gang at different addresses, having responded to adverts posted online - 25 puppies sadly died or had to be put to sleep due to severe health problems.

During the first warrants executed by officers, a total of 46 dogs and puppies were found kept in plastic sheds, outbuildings and garages, or running loose in gardens. 

The dead bodies of four Yorkshire terrier puppies were found wrapped in black bin bags scattered around the garden at the property in Coldharbour Lane in Hayes – all thought to be from the same litter.

Inspector Kirsty Withnall, who led the investigation to uncover the plot, said it was a “complex and sophisticated network of organised fraud and cruelty to dogs”.