Man jailed for illegal exotic pets trade

A man who sold exotic birds and other animals from an illegal pet shop based at his home has been jailed.

Robert Gillan, 40, previously admitted participating in a fraudulent business, failing to ensure the welfare of animals and offering endangered species for sale without a valid certificate.

Raids at the council-owned property he was living in discovered he was keeping animals in poor conditions, including four budgerigars, four rosellas, one galah, four conures - all types of parrot - and 13 sugar glider possums.

Gillan, of Rugeley, Staffordshire, was given a prison sentence of two years and eight months at Stafford Crown Court on Friday.

He was also handed a 10-year disqualification order banning him from trading or keeping animals.

The court heard Cannock Chase District Council officers, working with police and the RSPCA, carried out warrants at Gillan's home in May 2022 and in December 2023.

As well as discovering a number of exotic species, they found them being kept in conditions described as causing "unnecessary suffering".

Among the issues highlighted in court were mould in the aviaries, dirty water, a dead guinea pig that had started to decompose, cages without food or water, a lack of heating, and birds unable to stretch their wings or access food.

The council said 162 animals in total were found in May 2022 and a veterinary surgeon confirmed 27 were "suffering or likely to suffer without intervention".

Officers found conditions had not improved when they visited the property for the second time.

The court heard the number of animals had reduced but the conditions were still described as "unhygienic".

Gillan had never held a licence but traded unlawfully under the name Staffordshire Pets, a council spokesperson said.

Analysis of his online activity discovered about 290 adverts for dogs, birds and reptiles.

Prosecutors said the offending went on for six years and it was difficult to know how much money he made, though "conservative" estimates put the turnover at about £300,000.

The hearing was told Gillan was "appalled" with himself, was no longer selling pets and had committed no further offending.

Sentencing Gillan, Judge Avik Mukherjee said: "This was a long-term fraud taking place since 2016. It was fraudulent from the outset. It was an enterprise you entered to make money and you did make money.

"You showed no concern for animals you kept or sold. You were concerned with maximising your income and your profit."

He said the enterprise was to the detriment of both his customers and the creatures in his care, describing it as a "cynical exploitation of animals".

Under the terms of the disqualification order, Gillan and his family were allowed to keep their pet four dogs and one chinchilla, but they would not be allowed to keep the 11 birds they currently have.

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.