'Cruel' tortoise trader is banned


Anne Ovalstone from the International Tortoise Association describes the state the tortoises were in when they were rescued
A man who admitted animal welfare charges involving 151 tortoises and other reptiles has been banned from owning and dealing in animals.
Ian Crosby, 48, of Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, sold the animals in an internet business from his home.
The court heard that he failed to protect the animals under his care from pain, injury, disease and suffering.
The court heard that 24 tortoises died within a month of being seized. The survivors are being cared for locally.
The animals, which also included five iguanas and two bearded dragons, were seized by council inspectors in July 2008 after concerns were raised by vets about the health of the animals he was selling.

You consistently ignored veterinary advice and you paid little heed to the welfare of the animals

Ann Campbell, chair of magistrates
Crosby also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a suitable environment for five iguanas and 151 tortoises and admitted failing to seek veterinary attention to treat an open infected wound on one of the bearded dragons, causing it to suffer.
Crosby was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years. He will also be supervised for two months and carry out 200 hours of community service.
Michael Morgan, defending, said that originally Crosby had been asked to answer a further seven more serious charges relating to animal suffering, which were dropped.

Ian Crosby has lost his business and had a house repossessed
He said his client had been treating the open wound on the bearded dragon with disinfectant.
"In the short term, Mr Crosby has accepted that there was suffering but this is at the lower level of cruelty," said Mr Morgan.
Crosby also accepted the environment in which he kept the iguanas was not adequate, but this was only temporary before they were moved to his pet shop in Maesteg, Mr Morgan added.
He also told the court that Crosby had no idea some of the tortoises he had imported from Prague in the Czech Republic for his online business had herpes.
"He did everything in his power to ensure their welfare," said Mr Morgan.
The vet who attended the Vale of Glamorgan Council's inspection on 4 July 2008 also said the lighting and bedding were insufficient in the tortoise pens, the court heard.
After the case, the council said the tortoises in one pen had clambered over each other in an attempt to get heat from the one lamp that had been turned on.

The tortoises were clambering over each other to get heat from a lamp
This was described by the vet as being grossly insufficient as a heat source for 87 tortoises and would have contributed to their distress.
Lee Reynolds, prosecuting, also told the court that the allegation was that by failing to provide a suitable environment for the tortoises, the herpes virus had spread.
He also said the iguanas were at risk of severe burns in the environment they were kept in.
Mr Morgan said that after the inspection and subsequent seizure of £15,000 of stock, Crosby had lost his six-year-old business and had one of his homes repossessed.
He was also facing imminent bankruptcy. A repossession order on his current residence was also hanging over him and the proceedings had led to his 15-year-old son becoming estranged from him.
Mr Morgan added that the defendant suffered a mental breakdown.
Magistrates chair Ann Campbell told Crosby: "You consistently ignored veterinary advice and you paid little heed to the welfare of the animals."
After the case, Vale of Glamorgan council said: "The decision to prosecute Mr Crosby was made following a comprehensive investigation by licensing officers, during which information was received from eminent veterinary practitioners who, due to the severity of this case, needed to seek permission from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to breach client confidentiality.
"This was a national case in which the council had to respond to complaints from all over the country.
"The council is pleased with the outcome of this case and the sentence imposed by the court reflects the seriousness of the charges brought against Mr Crosby.
"However, it remains concerned that Mr Crosby continues to fail to recognise the seriousness of his offending."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8183548.stm