A CROSS Hands man has appeared in court after admitting breeding puppies without a licence.  

Michael Watts, 73, of Pontardulais Road, has been charged with two offences under the Animal Welfare Act of 2006.

It was alleged that Watts kept three or more dogs at his address and bred three or more litters within a 12-month period between December 2019 and August 2022 without a licence.

He was also accused of selling dogs as pets in the course of a business without a licence.

The charges were brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.

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Watts pleaded guilty to the offences at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on February 22.

He appeared at Swansea Crown Court on March 22 where a timetable was set out for Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings.

As part of this, an investigation will be carried out as to how much, if at all, the defendant benefitted from his offending, with the aim of recovering any profits.

Judge Huw Rees ordered that the defendant will return to court on August 2.