LYDBROOK wolf-dog breeder Nadia Carlyle has been banned from keeping dogs for 12 months after being found guilty of four counts of cruelty to animals.

The 34-year-old, who describes herself as a 'K9 crusader' on her website, denied nine charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the 19 Utonagan dogs and puppies that were removed from her cottage by the RSPCA.

In imposing the ban at Forest of Dean Magistrates' Court in Coleford, District Judge Simon Cooper said the defendant needed a clean break from keeping dogs to reassess her position.

He was told by defence solicitor Granville Rowley that Carlyle was now living in a caravan with no electricity or running water on a farm in Wales.

The Judge said: “The conditions may be suitable for the dogs but they are not suitable for you.

“I am not satisfied that if the dogs were returned to you that you would be able to care for them.”

He added there was a lack of general care of the animals and that the conditions in the cottage were “indefensible”, but he dismissed two charges which alleged Carlyle kept the dogs in an environment that was detrimental to their wellbeing.

He said: “There was identifiable suffering but I cannot be sure it can be attributed solely to the environment they were being kept in.”

She was found not guilty of a further charge of failing to institute a proper worming regime for one of the dogs and two charges relating to the death of two puppies were withdrawn.

He gave her a conditional discharge for three years and ordered her to pay £300 in compensation to David Pearse who took possession of some of her dogs when she moved house. Carlyle is planning to launch an appeal against her conviction following the four-day trial.