BEDFORDSHIRE NEWS (Bedford, UK) 09 January 10 Man smashed up house after being told to remove snake

A tenant caused thousands of pounds worth of damage after being told he couldn’t keep his ‘dangerous’ snake and spiders in the property.

Daniel Thompson-Sullivan, 31, was sent to prison for a total of 40 weeks at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to racially aggravated criminal damage.

In May 2009, he wrecked the house near Ampthill Road, Bedford, which he had been renting from Gold Crown Property Services based in Ford End Road, Bedford along with his cousin.

Eric Masih, who runs the company which rents and sells properties, went along to the house after Thompson-Sullivan contacted him regarding problems with the boiler.

While he was there Mr Masih saw a bag which was moving and Thompson-Sullivan said it was a dangerous snake and proceeded to show him scorpions and spiders he had in tanks in his bedroom.

Mr Masih said: “I was very shocked and then suddenly he told me to get out of the room because the snake had escaped. I ran out and locked myself in my car because I am scared of snakes.”

Mr Masih told Thompson-Sullivan that he shouldn’t have the animals there as it was not in the contract and they may be dangerous. He told him to remove them. Days later Mr Masih said he received a message from the tenant saying he had moved out so he went round to inspect the property and discovered the damage.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it. The radiators had been smashed along with the washing machine, dishwasher, tiles, and there were racial messages on the walls saying ‘Paki’. I contacted the police straight away.”

Mr Thompson-Sullivan changed his plea after it was originally listed for a trial in Cambridge Crown Court.

He was given 39 weeks for the criminal damage and then an extra week for failing to attend court on a previous occasion.

Mr Masih said he wanted people to realise that they cannot get away with this sort of thing.

He said: “It shows that tenants are punished if they do this.

“It’s not acceptable and I think the whole thing has used so much of the taxpayers money for one stupid man.”
Man smashed up house after being told to remove snake

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