A VALE of Glamorgan 'animal lover' who starved her pet python to death was banned from keeping reptiles for ten years.

Llantwit Major resident Natalie Joanne Williams, of Tresilian Close, pleaded guilty at Barry Magistrates Court on Tuesday, February 18 to causing unnecessary suffering to her ball python, Jake.

Williams, 32, contacted the RSPCA herself about the condition of the six-year-old snake, complaining about the previous owner even though Jake was in her care for at least five months.

When RSPCA inspector Christine McNeil called in August 2002 she found the dead snake with hardly any muscle or body fat.

The extremely thin body of the snake was triangular, its protruding spine easily felt through the skin.

A vet who carried out a post-mortem said the snake was severely malnourished and virtually blind by the time he died.

He estimated Jake had been in this suffering condition for about four months.

Adult snakes should be fed three mice per fortnight but Williams had no previous experience of caring for exotic animals.

She claimed she had been feeding the snake about once every three months and that the previous owner had told her the snake could go for 12 months without food.

Defending, Michael Morgan said Miss Williams acted on ill-informed advice and always considered herself to be an animal-lover, even paying £140 when Jake developed a skin complaint.

As well as the ban Williams was given a three-year conditional discharge, fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £100.43.

Inspector McNeil said: "This snake had been suffering for at least four months and the owner, who was responsible for its welfare, had failed to provide veterinary attention and the adequate care that an exotic animal needs.

I am pleased she has been banned from keeping any reptiles as this will ensure no other animal will suffer in such a way again."