R v Julie Michelle Pearce

Facts

The applicant, Julie Michelle Pearce, was involved with two of her daughters, who were co-defendants, in illegal puppy breeding. On 24 April 2023 in the Crown Court at Cardiff she changed her plea to guilty, then aged 57, to two counts of engaging in a commercial practice which was misleading in action and contained false information (counts 3 and 5), and pleaded guilty to two related summary offences sent under section 51(1)(b) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1988 of carrying on an activity without the authority of a section 13 licence. On 10 July 2023 she was sentenced to 42 weeks' imprisonment in total, suspended for 12 months with a rehabilitation activity requirement, together with a 10-year order under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2005. A hearing had been listed for 5 September 2024 to determine benefit and the available amount, at which the applicant maintained that the benefit was £27,981.61; instead, having considered the prosecution's evidence that the benefit was £75,067.72 with the benefit of legal advice, she agreed a benefit figure of £60,000. On 30 September 2024 Recorder Christian Jowett made a confiscation order in that sum under section 6 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The single judge refused leave to appeal, and the application was renewed.