A man has admitted breaching a 10-year ban prohibiting him from keeping animals.

Richard William Miller, aged 43, of Alder Road, Pulrose, received the ban in January 2018 after he was found guilty of two offences relating to illegal possession of two birds of prey and two further offences of cruelty to dogs.

Despite the ban, 14 rock pigeons and a corn snake were found at his home on July 8 this year.

Miller initially denied breaching the ban and a trial was due to take place, but on Thursday he changed his plea to guilty.

pigeons

He had argued that the pigeons and snake belonged to his partner rather than him.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon said that this was not accepted as it was the prosecution’s view that they would have been in his custody at certain times.

Miller accepted this and entered a basis of plea, which was accepted, saying that his partner had started living with him in April 2019 and had brought the pigeons and snake with her.

He accepted that, from April, he was frequently left alone with the birds and snake and they were therefore in his custody.

When the ban was imposed in January 2018 two dogs had been found at his home which were said to be living in ’appalling conditions’.

At that time wildlife crime officer Constable Mark Kerruish said of the dogs: ’Both were underweight with prominent back bones and located in a single downstairs toilet, on a urine soaked piece of foam surrounded by extensive faeces, with no food or water readily available.’

On Thursday, Deputy High Bailiff Chris Arrowsmith ordered that a probation report be prepared before sentencing which will take place on January 16.

The latest offence also puts Miller in breach of a suspended sentence imposed in June 2018 imposed for driving while disqualified.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500.