Call for tough penalty after snake stabbed

A SNAKE expert has called for a tough penalty to be given to a drug user who stabbed a 9ft python.

Geraint "The Snakeman" Hopkins has called on the courts to increase their penalties on cases of animal cruelty, as Bryce Mahoney, who admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the snake by stabbing it, awaits his fate.

The expert was called to the Glanmor Road address where he saw what he said was a Taiwanese beauty snake with multiple stab wounds and still in a state of shock.

He said: "I decided to take it to Alpha Vet Surgery in Burry Port where they treated the snake. The owner (Dean Gibson) was very upset as he loved the snake. It was given the OK to take home and he was shown how to inject it with medicine.

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"I was horrified when I first saw it, I can't believe someone would be so cruel. There was no need for it. I know people say it was only a snake but it was quite harmless and not even aggressive.

"The snake was in shock, I think it was disgusting.

"It was lucky to survive as it had deep wounds and there was blood everywhere."

The court heard that at around 12.15pm on Friday, July 27, Dean Gibson saw Mahoney, 30, of Brodawel, Llannon, and another person climb over the wall at his Glanmor Road property before entering the house in relation to an unpaid drug debt.

Mr Gibson tried to hide upstairs as Mahoney had previously threatened to kill Gibson's snake, dog, and then him if the debt was not paid, magistrates were told.

The court also heard Mahoney is struggling with use of mephedrone.

Mr Hopkins also referred to the recent case of Brett Paul Simms, of Bryn, who was jailed for 18 weeks after punching and stamping a neighbour's dog to death — a sentence he felt was too lenient.

"That family loved the dog, the sentence was too lenient," Mr Hopkins said. "Something like that deserves a tough penalty."

Mahoney's case has been adjourned until September 14 for a full pre-sentence report to be prepared.