'Lizard lady' fined for throwing iguana

Igwig the iguana was brought to an earlier court hearing

A woman who threw her pet iguana at a pub doorman and a policeman has been fined and put on probation.

Susan Wallace, 48, of The Close, Seaview, Isle of Wight, had earlier been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the reptile by throwing it.

The woman, known by locals as "the lizard lady" has also been banned from a pub in Cowes where she had upset customers by placing Igwig the iguana on their heads.

She was sentenced at Isle of Wight magistrates in Newport on Tuesday having also been found guilty of common assault and admitting criminal damage.

Susan Wallace is known as "the lizard lady"

Wallace was given a six-month community rehabilitation order and fined £250.

She was also ordered to pay £55 compensation to doorman John Rosenthal and £90 costs.

During the trial in February, a tank was set up in the courtroom to house her green iguana.

The court heard Wallace had taken the iguana into the Anchor public house in Cowes.

'Extremely drunk'

She was asked to leave when she started to upset customers by placing the iguana on their shoulders and heads.

Doorman John Rosenthal described how Wallace became disturbed after he had twice asked her to leave.

My iguana is an individual and I give him free run of my house

Susan Wallace, pet owner

He said she attacked him by throwing the iguana at him twice and by kicking him once.

The court heard an "extremely drunk" Wallace then went to Cowes police station where she became abusive to Police Constable David Harry.

She also threw the iguana at him - it missed and hit a filing cabinet before falling to the floor.

Sleeping together

Veterinary surgeon David Beckingham, called as an expert witness to the trial, said throwing the iguana could cause it to be injured and could cause it unnecessary suffering.

Igwig is back with his owner

However, he said the animal had remained healthy.

Wallace, who admitted having a drink problem, told the court in February that she was inseparable from Igwig.

"My iguana is an individual and I give him free run of my house.

"We sleep together, I roll it up in a towel, I place him at the end of my bed, he crawls out and ends up on my chest at 6am."

Wallace was told in February by the magistrates that she would be allowed to keep Igwig the iguana.