Animal ban for man who mistreated exotic pets

RSPCA officers visited the property in Bolton after receiving a call expressing concerns for the welfare of the pets

A man has been banned from keeping animals for five years after mistreating his exotic pets.

Brian Simpson, 40, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to three leopard geckos and one bearded dragon in a hearing at Bolton Magistrates' Court.

RSPCA officers visited Simpson's home in Bolton in November 2023 after receiving a tip-off.

They found one dead gecko, a further two live geckos and a very thin bearded dragon at the property.

The two surviving geckos died a short time later, the court heard

The pets were found to be emaciated, dehydrated and cold, with no food or water provided and only one of the vivarium tanks having a light source.

“The defendant told me that the last time he had seen the dead gecko alive was two days before," said RSPCA animal rescue officer Alison Wilford.

The surviving reptiles were taken to vet Dr Federica Fogli but one gecko died en route while the other gecko died a short time later.

Dr Fogli concluded that, in her opinion, the condition of the animals indicated chronic poor husbandry and suffering for a period of at least three or four weeks.

"This degree of emaciation and dehydration would have been reached over the course of several weeks," she added.

A cat and two dogs also found at the property were also signed over by Simpson to the care of the RSPCA.

In mitigation, Simpson, of Bolton, had said his ex-partner had left him five weeks before and he had pleaded with her to take the animals with her, as he could not cope.

Ms Wilford urged anyone struggling to take care of any animals to ask for help and act on advice, "rather than neglecting them and leaving them to suffer".

In the sentencing hearing on 3 June, Simpson was also fined £200, with an order to pay £220 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.