A LAMPETER man was set to stand to trial on Tuesday as the Cambrian News went to press charged with two counts of illegal dog breeding and 21 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs.

The start of the trial of Richard Samuel Morgan Jones of Moelfre, Capel Y Groes at Aberystwyth Justice Centre was delayed after Jones’ defence lawyers called for the 21 unnecessary suffering charges to be made “more specific” by the prosecutor Maggie Hughes.

The prosecution against Jones, 31, is being brought by Ceredigion County Council following two raids by officers at his Moelfre address and at a premises at Y Shed, Gelligwenyn, Creuddyn Bridge, near Lampeter.

Jones is charged with operating a dog breeding establishment at each of the addresses without a licence.

He is also charged with 21 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Jones’ defence solicitor argued ahead of the trial that the 21 charges “lacked particulars” as to how Jones breached the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and called on magistrates for a dismissal of the unnecessary suffering charges, or for them to force the prosecution to amend the charges.

Read today’s South Ceredigion edition of the Cambrian News for the full story