A man from Glastonbury has been sentenced after arranging the ear cropping of three puppies.

Che Osiris Lord, aged 37, of Meare Road, Glastonbury, appeared at Yeovil Magistrates' Court on March 26 where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to one offence under Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act.

Lord admitted permitting ear cropping to be carried out on three American XL bulldog type puppies.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 40 hours' unpaid work requirement and ordered to pay £100 costs plus a £95 victim surcharge.

A veterinary report presented to the court explained that in addition to the acute inflammation and pain associated with the cropping process that there may also be a number of longer term welfare concerns related to the tissue removal and altered ear posture.

In the report, veterinary surgeon, Dr Sean Taylor, said: "As with any tissue removal there will be associated chronic scarring and stimulation of associated nerves which may result in chronic pain.

"Dogs communicate with each other via body language in a similar way to humans and part of this communication involves ear movement and position.

"Mutilation of the ear pinna results in a dramatically altered ear shape which may hinder the dog's ability to communicate effectively."

RSPCA inspector Miranda Albinson, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: "Ear cropping is illegal in England and Wales, under Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

"While it is still legal in some European countries and US states, it is illegal here which means owners cannot crop their dogs' ears, or send them to have their ears cropped by someone else."

All three dogs were deprived from his ownership by the courts meaning they can now be rehomed by the RSPCA.