TOM AND CATHERINE WYVERN'S HORRIFIC REPTILE CRUELTY IN STOWMARKET REVEALED

In a disturbing case that has shocked animal welfare advocates, former reptile breeders Tom and Catherine Wyvern, who previously resided on Melford Road in Stowmarket, were found guilty of neglecting and causing unnecessary suffering to a group of geckos they had bred and sold under the business name Wyverns Dragons.

According to reports, the Wyverns abandoned a total of 18 geckos in an empty house, leaving them to die a slow and agonizing death due to neglect. The couple’s failure to provide basic necessities such as food and water resulted in a tragic scene of suffering and decay. Despite their public claims on their business’s Facebook page that “our first thought is always for the quality care of each individual animal,” their actions starkly contradicted these words.

RSPCA Inspector Chris Nice described the scene at the former residence located on Fairfield Hill, Stowmarket, where he was allowed entry by a council housing officer on June 23, 2015. The inspector recounted an overwhelming stench of decay emanating from the property, which was filled with rotting food, discarded rubbish bags, and soiled nappies. Inside, the inspector found the remains of 17 of the 18 geckos, which were in various stages of decomposition, with their enclosures infested with flies. The conditions were described as appalling, with the animals left to suffer without any form of care.

The sole surviving gecko was found to be severely dehydrated, with its body weight reduced to approximately one-third of what it should have been. Fortunately, this gecko was later rehabilitated and successfully re-homed, but the scene of neglect left a lasting impression.

Both Tom Wyvern and Catherine Anscomb, who is now known as Catherine Carruthers, pleaded guilty before Ipswich magistrates to multiple charges. These included two counts of failing to ensure the welfare of an animal and two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. Catherine Wyvern expressed remorse, stating that she had not handled the geckos after becoming pregnant and described herself as devastated by what had happened to her pets.

In sentencing, Tom Wyvern received a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 60 hours of unpaid work, along with a fine of £710 in court costs. Catherine Wyvern was given a 12-month conditional discharge. Both individuals were also banned from keeping reptiles for five years, a ban that expired in November 2020. This case highlights the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of neglecting those who cannot speak for themselves.