A PAIR of pet python snakes abandoned by their owners have made a full recovery in their new homes, the RSPCA has said.

The animal welfare charity brought a case against Emma Bayliss, aged 37, of Flavells Lane, Lower Gornal, and Aaron Johnson, of Buckingham Grove, Kingswinford, also 37, who admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the two Royal Python snakes.

The pair were banned from keeping animals for 10 years after the case concluded last month.

The animal welfare charity was contacted with reports the couple had moved out of their home in Buckingham Grove leaving behind their pets.

RSPCA inspectors attended the address on May 26 last year and placed seals on the doors to establish if anyone had attended.

Inspectors then made subsequent visits before a relative of the couple gave them permission to enter and the animals were removed.

One of the snakes was found to have a mouth infection, while the other was unable to shed its skin.

The couple admitted the prolonged neglect of the two snakes, which were left without suitable care between May 25 and June 8 2022, and they were sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates Court on February 9.

As well as being banned from keeping animals for 10 years, they were handed a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out rehabilitation activities for 30 days.

They were also fined £120 each and ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £200 costs.

The pair were also told they cannot appeal for their 10-year disqualification to be lifted for five years.

Stourbridge News: The inside of the property where RSPCA inspectors found two abandoned Royal Pythons. Pic - RSPCAThe inside of the property where RSPCA inspectors found two abandoned Royal Pythons. Pic - RSPCA (Image: RSPCA)

In mitigation, it was said the couple had been receiving threats and did not feel safe staying at the address but they accepted they did not put arrangements in place for the care of their animals.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said afterwards: "Thankfully these snakes have gone on to make a full recovery in new homes."

The charity has been “pleading with people not to abandon their pets” – having seen a 25 per cent rise in abandonment incidents dealt with by rescue teams last year, and a 13 per cent rise in neglect cases.