A Black Country reptile enthusiast landed himself a £100 fine after “rescuing” a crocodile from a pet shop and giving it a home in his Wolverhampton bedroom.

Gareth Johnson, aged 25, was charged with keeping a dangerous wild animal without a licence at his home in Grosvenor Street, Heath Town.

The father-of-two, who pleaded guilty by letter, argued that the creature was going to be put down and that as an animal lover he “could not see that happen”.

He took the creature back to his modest terraced home, where it joined his collection of 45 snakes – including four Burmese pythons – and two tortoises.

But he was forced to give up the crocodile after discovering that the cost of a licence was £412.

He then negotiated an exchange at Wings and Things pet shop in Wolverhampton.

However, the shop owner later rang the council and asked them to collect the creature after discovering that he too needed a licence.

Yesterday, Wolverhampton magistrates fined Johnson £100 for keeping a dangerous wild animal without a licence and ordered him to pay £150 towards court costs.

In court, the council’s solicitor Donna Richards argued that it was unlikely that a Dangerous Wild Animals licence would not have been granted to Johnson in any event.