Jail for man over tortoise sales

A 21-year-old Telford man who sold 300 endangered tortoises, making a profit of £35,000 in just 12 months, was today jailed for eight months.

David Neville Johnson was also the first person in the UK to be given a Serious Crime Prevention Order for three years in connection with the illegal trade in endangered tortoises.

Johnson was caught illegally selling spur-thighed and Hermann tortoises, using the wrong paperwork after his home was raided by officers from the National Wildlife Crime Unit, HM Revenue and Customs and Telford police, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

Sentencing, Judge Robin Onions said: "The species concerned are endangered and the defendant was in this for profit.

"He should have known the specific risks involved in what he was doing."

The court heard Johnson bought 200 tortoises while on police bail and sold 100 of them to pet shops in Manchester and Nottingham.

Johnson, of Captain's Meadow, The Rock, admitted six charges of illegally selling either Hermann or spur-thighed tortoises. He also admitted illegally buying a tortoise and another charge of knowingly or recklessly furnishing false documents to obtain a permit between March last year and January this year.

Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said Johnson's home was raided in November 2008. He said: "Johnson was interviewed about the sale of tortoises and told police he had made between £30,000 and £35,000 from their sale between 2006 and 2007.

"The defendant said he had sold the 91 Hermanns and nine spur-thighed tortoises without valid certificates."

Geoffrey Dann, for Johnson, said he was aware "in general terms" of the requirements of the law.