An offender who once claimed to own the smallest dog in Britain has been sentenced for animal cruelty offences and illegal dog breeding.
Published: Monday, 16th March 2026
On Friday, 13 March, at a hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court, Gemma Blackman of Ferriston, Banbury was ordered to pay £2,114 in costs and a victim surcharge, following a prosecution by Cherwell District Council. She was also given a 24-month community order with a requirement for rehabilitative activity and preventing her from breeding dogs.
Blackman first came to the attention of the council’s licensing team following a complaint from a resident who had purchased a puppy from her. Officers then noted coverage in The Sun of her pet chihuahua, Olaf, which, she told the newspaper in 2022, she thought might have been the smallest dog in Britain.
The team went on to discover that she had been using Olaf as a stud in an illegal breeding operation, which saw her net up to an estimated £12,000 in puppy sales over a three-year period.
Councillor Rob Pattenden, Portfolio Holder for Healthy and Safe Communities, said: “This was a shocking case of illegal breeding and animal cruelty, where tragically, innocent animals’ wellbeing was disregarded in favour of financial gain for the offender. Our team identified a consistent pattern of offending, and I am pleased that the magistrate found in our favour and issued an appropriate sentence.
“Dogs bring so much joy to their owners, but my message to anyone looking to get a pet is to only use a licensed breeder or a reputable animal rescue centre.”
The council also uncovered evidence that Blackman had bred from animals with genetic ailments that could have been passed to their offspring, a practice prohibited in licensed commercial breeding.
Officers additionally found proof of animal cruelty where Blackman had failed to act when dogs under her care needed help from a veterinarian. This inaction caused unnecessary suffering and the death of the animals involved.
The sentencing hearing came after Blackman pleaded guilty to the breeding and selling of dogs without a licence, contrary to Animal Welfare Regulations, and to one count of animal cruelty, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act.