Man sentenced for mistreatment of exotic animals

At one premises, tortoises were found packed into cardboard boxes

A man has been given a suspended prison sentence for animal welfare failings after hundreds of exotic creatures died or had to be put down.

David Johnson, 37, of Silvercroft Street in Manchester, previously pleaded guilty to nine offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

The RSPCA said as a result of its investigation, police carried out searches at four addresses in Shropshire in December 2020, collecting more than 1,800 animals amid concern for their health.

Snakes, lizards and tortoises were among them, with some dead or close to death. Nearly 400 of those removed by officers died later on or were euthanised.

At one of the premises the police entered, on Holyhead Road, near Shifnal, the RSPCA said more than 1,000 leopard geckos were recovered, along with more than 300 tortoises, 18 pythons, 22 rose belly lizards, 47 basilisks, 10 iguanas, 14 Chinese water dragons and two parrots.

The charity also found a number of animals dead or close to death and RSPCA Inspector Kate Parker said: "I could instantly feel that it was cold inside. It was cold inside for any animal, let alone reptiles."

At another location, in Wrockwardine, RSPCA inspectors found 15 quail in cramped conditions, along with a bantam chick with no water, and a monitor lizard and a crested gecko in temperatures which were too low for them.

At a property in Newport they found another 73 tortoises packed into boxes with no food or water.

A vet who examined them said they were suffering predominantly from dehydration.

Surviving animals were found new homes or sent to RSPCA centres.

At court appearances in 2022 and 2023, Johnson admitted charges of failing to ensure the needs of more than 200 animals, selling animals without a licence and causing unnecessary suffering to two parrots, 73 tortoises and 15 quail.

He was sentenced on 25 September to 24 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months and was disqualified from keeping animals for 16 years.

Commenting after the sentencing, Ms Greaves said: "There were dead and dying animals and it was incredibly sad to see such beautiful animals in these conditions."

She said the operation had been distressing for the investigators involved.