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A respected Crufts dog trainer could face jail after allowing three pets to die in a baking hot car.

Andrew Claridge-Fleming left four dogs in the back of his Land Rover Discovery for seven hours on a hot day. The 57-year-old claimed he had left a door and the boot open for the dogs that were in crates.

He was then unexpectedly called away from his farm, but when he returned hours later he was “shocked” to find the boot closed.

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Claridge-Fleming found Milo, a six-month-old fox red Labrador, cocker spaniel Bodger and a cockapoo, named Rocky, had died of heat exhaustion. A fourth dog, his own cocker spaniel also called Milo, was alive but had to be rushed to the vet.

The car had been parked at his farm in New Milton, Hants at the time of the tragedy in August 2023.

Claridge-Fleming runs Gordleton Gundogs, a training school he set up in 2022.

His wife Nicola breeds working cocker spaniels under the same name.

He has represented England at the international game fair working test and made his debut at Crufts last year.

Claridge-Fleming admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals when he appeared at Bournemouth crown court.

In a statement read out by his barrister, he said: "I had taken the dogs out for training that morning and returned at approximately 9am.

"They were left in a crate in the back of the car with capacity for four dogs, two in each compartment. They were left with water and I left the back door and boot open on my Land Rover Discovery.

"My wife and I had four children, my wife had just given birth.

"She had gone out to visit her aunt but came back a short while later saying she couldn't cope with the drive with all the children.

"I said I would take them, this was around 10am. It was otherwise unplanned. I was gone until approximately 4pm.

"When I returned I was shocked to find the boot had been closed. Three out of four had perished. I was distraught. I did what I could to cool Rocky down before taking him to the vet.

"I do not accept I am directly responsible for their deaths but I do accept I left the dogs unattended for too long.

"At gun dog trials, dogs are routinely kept in crates in the back of vehicles, it is standard practice in the industry.

"I regret the incident immensely."

He will be sentenced in August and faces up to five years behind bars.