Snake den found in raid on house

The pit viper was one of the snakes discovered in the house

A man has been banned from keeping wild animals after he admitted keeping dangerous snakes without a licence.

Cobras, vipers and scorpions were found when council officers and police raided a house in Nelson Road, Basildon, Essex, last October.

Lee Thompson was fined £325 with £1,450 costs and banned from keeping any dangerous wild animals for 10 years.

The investigation began after police were tipped-off that Thompson was importing endangered species.

The raid revealed a snake den which included buthid scorpions, a gaboon viper, an Asian pit viper, a monocled viper, an Egyptian cobra, a Siamese spitting cobra and a black-necked spitting cobra, the council said.

Phil Easteal, manager of environmental health, said: "We are pleased that the sentence included a lengthy ban from keeping dangerous animals and reflected the seriousness of the offence.

"By issuing licences for keeping dangerous wild animals we can ensure that risks to public safety do not arise, and that the welfare of animals is safeguarded."

Snakes are difficult to look after and only experienced persons should attempt to keep them.

The snakes have now been found new homes.