A MAN who abandoned a snake at a barbershop has been banned from owning animals.
Dominic Ash left a boa constrictor to suffer after dumping it at a former barbershop.
The 31-year-old had left the two-metre-long reptile in a tank with no water.
It was found by police lying in “sludge” at the Office Barber Shop in Ashley Road, Poole.
Following a successful prosecution by the RSPCA, Ash has been banned from owning animals for five years.
Ash, whose address was given as Sullivan Road, Southampton, was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to provide constant access to an adequate supply of clean fresh drinking water.
He had been due to appear before magistrates last January but he failed to attend and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
At a subsequent court appearance he pleaded guilty to the offence which took place between May 31 and June 5 last year.
RSPCA inspector Jo Story investigated the incident for the animal welfare charity.
She said: “Police gained entry to the shop and once inside I could see the large vivarium with a common boa inside it. There was no water source and a sludge at the bottom of the vivarium.
“There was nowhere for the snake to hide.”
A vet examined the snake to find it was dehydrated and to check for any other health problems.
Details of the case were revealed when Ash appeared at Poole Magistrates Court on November 18.
As well as being banned from animals he was also fined £200.
The bench further ordered Ash to pay £200 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.
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