A man nicknamed ‘Snake’ has been jailed for keeping 35 animals including a 4ft ALLIGATOR in a squalid bedroom.
Lee Thompson, 36, was convicted in his absence for keeping the reptile without a licence, along with other dangerous animals including cobras, copperheads, pythons and a Madagascar giant hognose.
All were found in Thompson’s bedroom in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, in January.
Some other animals had been left to die and their bodies decompose after being given no food, water or proper heat source.
Thompson who has distinctive tattoos including the word ‘snake’ on his neck was found by police on September 11 in Wallingford, Oxfordshire- after nearly a month on the run.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "Thompson kept wild animals in appalling conditions, ultimately causing 17 to die. Not only did he keep them without a licence but showed no care for their wellbeing or their survival.
"He then twice attempted to evade justice.
"We want to thank the RSPCA, particularly RSPCA inspector Rebecca Benson, for their assistance in helping to ensure the remaining animals were appropriately cared for."
Thompson first came to police attention in November 2015 where they raided a Basildon address.
Thompson from Laindon, Essex kept 45 exotic animals including 35 different species of snake, one Nile lizard, seven species of spider, one bullfrog and one snapping turtle at a unit in Basildon.
The spiders and nine of the snakes were already dead and the turtle had to be put down.
Seven of the dangerous snakes including two horned vipers, an Indochinese spitting cobra, two Uracoan rattlesnakes and two Western diamondback rattlesnakes could only be kept under licence.
Thompson successfully evaded arrest until January 24 this year, where he disclosed to police a new home address in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
Police searched the address where they found the massive alligator in a makeshift pen.
There were also 23 snakes and a fat tail scorpion. Seven of the snakes had died and been left to decompose.
There was no food, water or heat source and the snakes were in poorly ventilated plastic boxes.
Eleven of the animals were classed as dangerous wild animals – the spectacled caiman, two albino monocle cobras, four spitting cobras, the scorpion, a rattlesnake and two copperhead snakes.
Speaking at Basildon Magistrates Court on August 17, Ms Benson told the court of the torrid conditions the animals were found in.
She said: "Before we even entered the room we could smell a strong scent of faeces and rotting flesh.
"Inside the bedroom, we found the crocodile contained only in tarpaulin and flimsy wooden boards.
"The crocodile had no clean water and its heat lamp was unsecured and the animal could have easily knocked the lamp.
"None of the snakes had access to food or clean water and were being kept in plastic boxes with holes in them.
"The boxes were just piled on top of each other.
"Some of the snakes were alert but several had died and their boxes were infested with maggots."
He had previously received a ten year ban from keeping dangerous wild animals without a licence in 2009.
Thompson was found guilty of two counts of keeping a dangerous wild animal without a licence, two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two counts of breaching a disqualification.
He appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on October 3 where he was jailed for 26 weeks and fined £115.
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