A NORTHWICH man has avoided jail after keeping six 10-foot-long pythons in cold and filthy conditions in a dilapidated lock-up garage.

Vincent Parkes, of Adlington Drive, was sentenced for six offences on Monday, May 22 - two relating to mistreating the snakes, and four to a traffic incident on February 11, 2022, when he assaulted two police officers, refused to provide a sample of blood for drug and alcohol analysis, and was found with cocaine.

The 33-year-old didn’t attend the trial on April 14 on charges brought privately by the RSPCA after their inspectors found six live reticulated pythons at the lock-up garage in Cockington Close, Kingsmead, on December 3, 2021.

Neighbours had called the animal welfare charity to report a foul smell coming from the garage, and when officers arrived, they were able to peer through a gap in the rotten garage door and confirm there were live snakes inside.

Parkes turned up soon after and removed several dead snakes - three or four - from a single tank at the garage in the presence of RSPCA inspectors, telling them he 'knew they had no power', before police arrived to stop him. 

After police arrived, inspectors found six live snakes, snakes eggs, and a tank containing the rotten carcass of a lamb.

Parkes confirmed they belonged to him, and that he was breeding them.

The live animals were recovered from the garage with the help of staff at Cheshire Reptile Rescue, who took charge of them on behalf of the RSPCA.

Sadly one snake, a yellow female known only as NN1, died soon after arriving at the sanctuary.

The remaining animals were later examined by vet Jennifer Quayle, who gave evidence to the court.

She said some were so under-weight their spines were visible through their skin, and others were mite-infested and had respiratory infections caused by the cold.

The court also heard evidence from a second vet, exotic animal specialist Maria Kubiak, who gave expert opinion on whether Parkes’ treatment of the snakes had caused them unnecessary suffering. 

She said the snakes had probably not been fed for several months, which was 'just one of a significant number of welfare concerns that should have been noticed, including no water, inadequate or no heating, and insufficient space for them to display natural behaviours'. 

For mistreating the snakes, district judge Jack McGrava sentenced Parkes to 18 weeks in prison, suspending for 18 months. 

He was also banned from keeping any animal for 10 years, and ordered him to pay court costs of £500.

Parkes was also sentenced to eight weeks in prison, to run consecutively but again suspended for 18 months, for failing to provide a blood sample for analysis. 

For assaulting the two police officers, he was handed a community order, which includes a rehabilitation activity requirement course, and 80 hours unpaid work.

He was also banned from driving for 12 months, ordered to pay £50 compensation, and £100 court costs.

His cocaine was forfeited and destroyed.