A man has been banned from owning animals for 15 years – after six puppies were found in the back of his van at a ferry port covered in urine and faeces.

Stephen McRea, 29, from Belfast, was found trying to transport the six collie puppies from Northern Ireland to Scotland on December 3, 2020.

The poorly pups were all found to be under weight and tested positive for the Parvo virus antigen – and three of the them later died.

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Police stopped McRea at Loch Ryan Port, Cairnryan, in grey Ford Transit Connect van after it had disembarked from the P&O ferry sailing from Larne Port, Northern Ireland.

Cops noticed a strong, pungent smell of animal urine emanating from the driver’s window.

When they asked McRea what he was carrying he said that he was transporting a “couple of dogs” to a family member in Glasgow.

They searched the van and found six collie type puppies in a cage in the load space of the vehicle with no food or water.

There were two blankets which were covered in both urine and faeces and all of the puppies were also covered in it.

The floor of the load space was covered in sawdust and had traces of dried faeces.

The police removed the puppies before handing them over to the Scottish SPCA to be examined by vets.

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McRea was sentenced at Stranraer Sheriff Court on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to failing to take steps to provide the collie puppies with food, water or a suitable place to rest while transporting them.

McRea was also ordered to carry out 90 hours unpaid work and will be supervised for a year under a community payback order imposed by the court.

Speaking after the sentencing, Karon Rollo, Head of the Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit of COPFS said: “I welcome the conviction and sentence in this case.

“Stephen McRea’s failure to meeting the most basic needs of these puppies and provide a suitable environment for them while they were his responsibility is wholly unacceptable.

“We are committed to tackling this type of offending and will continue to work with the Scottish SPCA and Police Scotland to ensure that those who commit such crimes face prosecutorial action.”