Pet ban for man over mistreatment of geckos and bearded dragon

A man who mistreated three geckos and a bearded dragon has been banned from keeping any animal as a pet for five years and fined.

Brian Simpson, 40, appeared before a court in an RSPCA prosecution. The charity said magistrates were told an RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer found one dead gecko, a further two live geckos and a 'very thin bearded dragon' at his home in Bolton last November.

An RSPCA statement said: "The court heard that in November 2023, the RSPCA visited a property in Pimlott Road to check on the welfare of some exotic pets, following a call to the charity reporting concerns about the animals.

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"Simpson answered the door and RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Alison Wilford was shown around."

She 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 defendant told me that the last time he had seen the dead gecko alive was two days before."

Simpson signed over all the animals into the care of the RSPCA and the pet reptiles were taken to a vet who examined them.

The vet, Dr Federica Fogli, said the two live leopard geckos and the bearded dragon had very poor bodily conditions. They were emaciated, dehydrated and extremely cold, and were given fluids and 'supportive feeding', the RSPCA added.

One of the leopard geckos subsequently died. The third leopard gecko had already passed away when he was brought in. Dr Fogli said that in her opinion, the condition of the animals indicated chronic poor husbandry and suffering.

She said: