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 of Sullivan Road, Southampton 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.

He 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 previously pleaded guilty to the offence which took place between May 31 and June 5 last year..

RSPCA inspector Jo Story, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, 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 were two long strip lights inside the vivarium but tests showed none were producing UV. The temperatures inside the vivarium were 25.8 degrees centigrade under the heat source and 21.9 degrees centigrade on the bottom shelf. There was nowhere for the snake to hide.

A vet examined the snake to find it was dehydrated. Tests were also done for any other health problems.

Inspector Story added: “A large container with water was sought so we could put the snake in there to re-hydrate. Once the snake felt comfortable in there it started to drink. This could be seen by its tongue flicking in and out and its lower jaw making slight movements to draw in the water. The snake continued to drink on and off for a prolonged period before he was taken to a specialist facility for further care.”

Appearing before Poole Magistrates Court on November 18 he was fined £200 and ordered to pay £200 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.