Man sentenced after dead tortoises found in forest

He's been banned from keeping the animals for 10 years

An Exeter man has been handed a 12-month community order and banned from keeping tortoises for a decade after he failed to look after and later dumped 10 of the animals which died in his care.

56-year-old Gary Priddle of Grecian Way, was also fined £199 and ordered to do 50 hours of unpaid work after he pleaded guilty to one charge under the Animal Welfare Act and another under the Environmental Protection Act.

In January, staff at the Killerton Estate near Exeter called the police after eight deceased tortoises were discovered in Ashclyst Forest. Two more were later found in the Fairmile area near Ottery St Mary.

Mr Priddle attended voluntary police interviews in February and April where he admitted being the owner of the tortoises and that he hadn't attended to the animals for a six-day period between Saturday 23 December and Friday 29 December. When he did visit them, he realised the heating lights had stopped working and the tortoises had died.

Visits to Mr Priddle's home address were carried out by police and the RSPCA where they found he was still in possession of a large number of adult and baby Herman tortoises. They have all been rehomed.

Inspector Mark Arthurs said: “This case highlights the variety of work that Devon and Cornwall Police undertake on a daily basis.

“It sadly serves as a reminder to all animal and pet owners that they always have a responsibility for the wellbeing of their animals.

“Those that are struggling with achieving this should reach out to the wealth of charities, who can support them in this.

“Whilst this case is one of an unusual nature, Devon and Cornwall Police are committed to ensuring, where possible, offenders are brought to justice and disqualification orders are sought from the courts to prevent further animals being harmed.

“We recognise that Priddle surrendered his remaining tortoises, but in this case we sought a disqualification order to ensure that he could not possess any more.

“I would like to commend the officer in the case, PC Mark Edwards in his efforts for bringing this case to court and also thank the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the RSCPA for their guidance and support throughout this investigation.”

RSPCA senior scientific officer Evie Button said: “Exotic pets have the same needs as they would in the wild.

“Caring for a captive animal takes time, money and knowledge to provide everything the animal needs. They need the right diet and the correct environment, to prevent suffering and ensure good welfare. Anyone keeping an animal in captivity in England and Wales has a legal obligation to meet that animal's needs under the Animal Welfare Act.

“Keeping an animal in surroundings that aren't suitable for its species can cause stress and behavioural problems. Reptiles rely on their environment to maintain their body temperature, so they need to live in a heated environment with a specific temperature gradient.

“This keeps them healthy and allows them to carry out their normal behaviour. If a reptile becomes too cold, they may be unable to eat or move normally and their immune system will not work properly to fight disease, meaning the animal can become very ill and die.

 “Unfortunately many people are unaware of how much of a commitment exotic pets are when they take them on. That's why it’s vital prospective owners always do their research before taking on any animal.”