Craig Duggan,BBC Walesand

Aled Scourfield,BBC Wales

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Thomas John Jones admitted to the charge which dated back to March 2015 when he would have been aged 17

A 27-year-old man has pleaded guilty to participating in a fraudulent dog breeding business.

Thomas John Jones from Prengwyn in Llandysul, Ceredigion, admitted knowingly taking part in the fraudulent business between March 2015, when he would have been 17 years old, and November 2023, at Swansea Crown Court on Monday.

The plea comes ahead of five people – including a councillor and a singer – going on trial in November 2026 after an investigation by a Wales-wide trading standards team into illegal dog breeding and fraud.

The court heard Jones’ charge included seeking to hide the true identity of dogs which were being sold and providing false or misleading documentation with the animals.

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Euros Davies and Sara Pritchard Davies are among five people to stand trial on charges related to illegal dog breeding

The case was brought by Ceredigion County Council to the trading standards team.

The five people who deny the charges and will face a trial next November are:

Former winner of S4C’s Can i Gymru Sara Pritchard Davies, 28 Ceredigion councillor Euros Davies, 60, from LlanybydderRhydian Davies, 28, from Prengwyn, LlandysulDelyth Mathias, 29, from CardiffRebecca Bailey, 30, from Llangrannog

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David Bethell and David Peter Jones have received a caution

Nerys Wyn Davies from Penrhiwllan, Ceredigion, pleaded guilty to the same charge at a previous hearing.

Three other defendants – David Bethell, 37 from Llandysul, Cara Barrett, 39 and from Carmarthen, and David Peter Jones, 77 and from Llandysul all admitted responsibility for the same charge and received a caution. The charge against them was stayed – meaning it would remain on their record.

A judge previously found 71-year-old Margaret Ann Jones, from Llandysul, not guilty after the prosecution decided not to offer any evidence.