Friends and customers of a pet salesman have expressed surprise at his conviction for hurting more than 100 animals.

Peter Hill, 48, of Arundel Avenue, Sanderstead, was convicted last week of causing unnecessary suffering to up to 94 species of endangered animals.

Peter Cox, who lives in Waterloo, bought his pet tortoise from former zoo keeper Hill a few years ago.

Mr Cox said "Mr Hill came across as a real animal lover who lived with his mum. When I went there, I remember seeing how well he looked after the tortoises and how healthy all of his animals seemed.

"That's why I was so shocked to see that he had been done for animal cruelty."

The tortoise he bought is still healthy.

A friend of Hill's also contacted the Guardian to say she always thought he was an animal lover.

But at Croydon Magistrates Court on October 9, District Judge Jane McIver gave Hill a two year conditional discharge and ordered Hill to pay £12,000 costs.

Last year, following several complaints from members of the public, police launched an investigation in partnership with the RSPCA's Special Operations Unit, HM Customs and Excise, and a UK division of the World Wildlife Fund.

They searched Hill's former home in Sanderstead on September 1, 2000, where 102 animals including a black pond turtle, bush babies and flying squirrels, were removed and put in RSPCA hands.

One tortoise was found decomposed and other animals covered in excrement and stacked in crates.

During the trial, which lasted nearly two-and-a-half weeks, the court heard how Hill had been trying to sell his house and had resorted to keeping the animals in such conditions to keep them out of sight of prospective buyers.

Hill was in the process of constructing purpose-built accommodation for the animals and was not banned from keeping animals. RSPCA chief inspector Neil Thomas said he was disappointed the animals are to be returned to Hill.

October 23, 2001 16:30