A LEIGH pet shop owner has been banned for life from holding or applying for a pet shop licence.

Rob Ralphson, 42, of Fowley Common Road, Culcheth, pleaded guilty to running an unlicensed pet shop in Leigh town centre in the first such case brought by Wigan Council under the Pet Animals Act 1951.

He pleaded not guilty to five charges of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to exercise care and supervision to a green iguana and a capuchin monkey.

A pre-trial hearing was set for December 23 at Leigh.

Mr Ralphson, who arrived in court carrying a wad of papers, including a 5,000 name petition from supporters and lengthy itemised vets' bills, told the court he had closed the Queen Street Pets Corner shop he operated.

Magistrates heard that Mr Ralphson had been sent reminders to renew his trader's licence in November 1998 and also in April of this year.

On May 6, Environmental Health officers visited the premises due to concerns the local authority had about the animals.

In court Mr Ralphson said in May he had sent off a cheque for £66 for the licence, had a cheque book stub as proof, but it had never been cashed and had presumably been lost.

Magistrates retired to consider a written statement from him. They returned to declare they had no questions concerning his statement then told him he would be disqualified for life from holding or applying for a pet shop licence.

They also fined him £330 and told him he must pay £1,132 towards prosecution costs.

When asked how he was going to pay Mr Ralphson replied "I have no idea. I am £2,500 overdrawn at the bank."

He asked magistrates what would be the likely length of prison sentence if he refused to pay, then offered to repay at £30 per week which magistrates accepted.

He told the Court: "If I hadn't moved I'd have gone bust."

Afterwards Borough Environmental Health and Consumer Protection Officer Bob Saunders said: "All possible advice will be provided to owners of pet shops and other premises used for keeping animals.

"Where, however, there is flagrant contravention of the law, firm action will be taken and the law enforced.

"I feel that the outcome of this case vindicates the action taken by the Council to protect animals."

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