Bolton man's animal ban after RSPCA exotic pets probe

This came after RSPCA inspectors visited the home of 40-year-old Brian Simpson on Pimlott Road, Hall i' th' Wood, in November last year to check on concerns the animals.

There RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Alison Wilford found two geckos and a bearded dragon in very poor states,

ARO Wilson said: “As well as a cat and two dogs, I found one dead gecko, a further two live geckos and a very thin bearded dragon at the property. 

“There was no food or water provided to the reptiles, and only one of the vivariums had a light source in it.

The RSPCA visited the home after becoming concerned about the welfare of the pets inside (Image: RSPCA)

“The defendant told me that the last time he had seen the dead gecko alive was two days before.”

She added: “It was Simpson’s legal responsibility to properly care for these pet reptiles and he failed to do this.”

Simpson signed over all the animals to the care of the RSPCA and the pet reptiles were taken to be examined by a vet, Dr Federica Fogli.

The geckos were found to be in a very poor condition (Image: RSPCA)

Dr Fogli found the two live leopard geckos and the bearded dragon had very poor bodily condition, emaciated, dehydrated and extremely cold.

They were admitted to hospital to help raise their temperature and were given fluids and supportive feeding.

One of the leopard geckos may have developed metabolic bone disease and died within a short time.

The former owner has been banned from keeping animals for five years (Image: RSPCA)

The third leopard gecko was already dead when he was brought to the vet, and again, showed poor bodily condition.

Dr Fogli said in her opinion, the condition of the animals indicated chronic poor husbandry and suffering. 

She said: “This degree of emaciation and dehydration would have been reached over the course of several weeks. 

“Additionally, conditions such as metabolic bone disease occur after a long period of malnutrition and poor husbandry.”  

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Brought before Bolton Magistrates Court on Monday June 3, in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA, Simpson pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

In mitigation, he told the court that his ex-partner had left him five weeks before and he had asked her to take the animals with her, as he couldn’t cope.

Simpson was banned from keeping animals for five years and ordered to pay a £200 fine, with a £80 victim’s surcharge. 

The RSPCA has advised anyone struggling to care for their animals to ask for help and advice rather than to neglect them.