'Cruel' and illegal Staffordshire pet dealer caged for 32 months after making £300,000 in six years
A Cannock Chase pet dealer who illegally sold exotic birds and animals on the black market earning an eye-watering £300,000 in six years has been caged for nearly three years.
Robert Gillan, of Upper Cross Street, Rugeley, was sentenced today at Stafford Crown Court after Cannock Chase District Council finally clipped his fraudulent wings.
Rugeley market stallholder Gillan repeatedly ignored welfare checks from the council about the safety of the creatures in his care as well as breaking international laws governing the sale of animals across the world.
The 40-year-old also tried to ignore the long arm of the environmental law continuing to his fraudulent business after two warrants were executed in 2022 and 2023. He pleaded guilty to fraud in 2024 but not guilty to animal cruelty offences last year.
His Honour Judge Avik Mukherjee jailed Gillan for two years and eight months and banned him from trading birds and animals on his release.
He said: "This was a long term fraud, you started in 2016 and lasted for six years. You entered to make money and that you did, an estimated £300,000.
"There was a large number of victims both animal and customers. These crimes led to significant harm of animals.
