A man who sold hundreds of puppies - many of which were unwell and later died - has avoided jail. Illegal puppy seller Richard Butler, 57, was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Friday.

He was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work in the community. Butler, from Springfield Farm, Rowley Park, Rugeley, pleaded guilty to three offences of fraud and one offence of making articles for use in fraud.