Micaela Anderson-Letts was first investigated in May 2020 when police visited her then-home in Surbiton during a Covid lockdown.
Officers discovered the decomposing bodies of two pigs in her garden, which she claimed had died of illness a week earlier.
Other pigs were found alive but trapped in a pen so small they couldn’t lie down, without food or water, and exposed to scorching sunlight.
Over a year later, in July 2021, Anderson-Letts came under scrutiny again when members of the public reported dogs left in a caravan in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Police found 35 puppies and a dog living in squalid conditions, with no food or water. The caravan floor was soaked in urine and faeces, surrounded by exposed wires and broken tools.
The dogs, a mix of labradors, dachshunds, and French bulldogs, were rescued in a desperate state, with footage showing them guzzling water after being removed from the mobile home.
One dachshund puppy died shortly afterwards from starvation and dehydration, while 14 others required hospital treatment.
At Kingston Crown Court, Anderson-Letts was sentenced to 24 months in prison, suspended for two years, for causing unnecessary suffering to animals and for 15 additional animal welfare offences.
Suspended sentences are custodial sentences where the offender does not have to go to prison provided that they commit no further offences and comply with any requirements imposed.
The other offences included faking importation documents for underage puppies and illegally selling them in 2020, with potential earnings of £173,000.
Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey criticised her actions as “disgraceful and uncaring” and noted that her offences merited an immediate custodial sentence.
He added: “What is clear, investigations show Micaela Anderson-Letts was part of a Facebook group advertising these dogs for sale.
“It was clear she had these dogs for no other reason than to sell them on and make a profit.”
However, the sentence was suspended, taking into account her responsibilities as a mother to a young child and carer for her elderly mother, as well as evidence of her autism.
Defending, David Langwallner highlighted that Anderson-Letts had previously been a person of good character and was making efforts to rebuild her life.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Anderson-Letts was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, up to 20 days of rehabilitative activity, and was banned for life from owning or working with animals.
After the sentencing, Pc Jenner added: “It transpired that Anderson-Letts had previously been issued an animal banning order and showed complete disregard to the judicial system by continuing to involve herself with puppies.
“After lots of hard work and dedication over the past three years, I am happy that this case has finally come to a conclusion.
“I would like to thank all staff and officers involved, the RSPCA inspectors, vets and vital witnesses who supported this investigation, along with members of the public who assisted in the rescue of these innocent puppies.
“After the appropriate veterinary treatment and care the dogs were rehomed to loving families.”
