Former escort with six aliases made £500,000 selling sick and dying puppies from illegal farm – but will have to pay back just £8,500 

  • Grace Banks was jailed after she admitted selling sick and dying puppies
  • The 29-year-old made £505,739 fortune from her illegal puppy farm venture
  • However a court has ordered that she pay back only £8,500 as she's broke
  • She kept pets cramped in buckets and left a dead dog in the boot of her car

By Alexander Robertson For Mailonline

Published: 10:33 EST, 6 June 2016 | Updated: 12:19 EST, 6 June 2016

Grace Banks admitted selling sick and dying puppies to families

Grace Banks admitted selling sick and dying puppies to families

A former escort who ran an illegal puppy farm earning her more than £500,000 has been ordered to pay back just £8,500 from her criminal activity.

Grace Banks, 29, was jailed for nine months in May after she admitted selling sick and dying puppies to families.

She had pleaded guilty to animal neglect and fraud and was brought back before Manchester Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime hearing.

The court was told that it was her second conviction for running a puppy farm, and she has now been banned from keeping animals for life.

Banks, who the court heard uses a number of alias and used to work as an escort, earned a total of £505,739 from her puppy farms.

But the court heard that she can only afford to pay back £8,500, which she must do within three months or face further jail time.

The court heard she was selling sick and dying puppies to families - after keeping the animals cramped in buckets. She used fake names, homes and even set up her own 'pedigree registration' company to con buyers who thought they were buying healthy puppies raised in a home environment.

Raids in 2012 and 2013 revealed Yorkshire terriers, huskies, West Highland terriers, pomeranians, Labradors, beagles, shih tzus, French bulldogs, cockapoos were being kept in distressing conditions at a 'holding' address in Stockport.

The bodies of dead puppies - including a Yorkshire terrier slung in a wheelie bin - were found at the address and the dead body of one pup was found in the boot of her Mercedes.

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The bodies of dead puppies - including a Yorkshire terrier slung in a wheelie bin - were found during raids and the dead body of one pup was found in the boot of her Mercedes (pictured)

The bodies of dead puppies - including a Yorkshire terrier slung in a wheelie bin - were found during raids and the dead body of one pup was found in the boot of her Mercedes (pictured)

Raids revealed Yorkshire terriers, huskies, West Highland terriers, pomeranians, Labradors, beagles, shih tzus, French bulldogs, cockapoos were being kept in distressing conditions at a 'holding' address in Stockport

Raids revealed Yorkshire terriers, huskies, West Highland terriers, pomeranians, Labradors, beagles, shih tzus, French bulldogs, cockapoos were being kept in distressing conditions at a 'holding' address in Stockport

She rented addresses across Greater Manchester in Oldham, Rochdale and Littleborough to house the puppies and even changed her name from Lilly Cooper by deed poll to cover her tracks.

The investigation into Banks started when she sold an ill dog to a police officer, the court heard.

Judge Jeffrey Lewis said: 'The puppies she sold were often flee-ridden, diseased and a risk to human health.

'This was well planned, sophisticated. The goal of this enterprise was maximum financial gain and you were the one benefiting from that gain.'

THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE FAMILIES WHO FELL VICTIM TO BANKS

  • Helen Mercer bought a 'cockapoo' for £595. When she took it to the vet, it was revealed to be a cocker spaniel. 
  • Christine Karowski bought a puppy which had a severe intestinal infection.
  • Jill Scott bought a West Highland terrier from a 'Tracey Allan'. But the puppy died after a short painful illness.
  • Sharon David bought Lulu, a Cavachon puppy from a 'Sarah'. She later tested positive to parvovirus and kennel cough.
  • Lorna Melia bought a Cavachon too, but it was female, not male as advertised - and had fleas and worms.
  • Maureen Heath bought a £600 puppy which had e-coli and giardia. Her husband became ill over Christmas with giardia.
  • Colin Daines picked up a £575 cocker spaniel. It later became sick, vomiting worms. It had E-coli, enterococcus and campylobacter - and passed the stomach illness on to Mr Daine's young granddaughter.
  • Mrs Campbell paid £575 for a puppy which was revealed to have an abdominal hernia.

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