Crocodile Encounters owner Mark Richmond guilty of animal cruelty to two lizards

Details have exposed how the owner of a Central Coast reptile show was involved in acts of animal cruelty. And he has revealed to RSPCA inspectors what led to him ‘cutting corners’.

The owner of popular travelling reptile show Crocodile Encounters has copped a hefty fine but has avoided a five-year ban from keeping exotic animals.

Grahame `Mark’ Richmond represented himself when he appeared at Gosford Local Court on Thursday charged with six counts of animal cruelty.

The court heard the 58-year-old had been looking after animals for more than 30 years and had no criminal history whatsoever.

Crocodile Encounters’ Grahame Mark Richmond with `Mr Crunch’. Picture: SUPPLIED

Charge sheets tendered to court state he failed to provide sufficient food, water or veterinary treatment for a Bearded Dragon and a Spencer’s Monitor, which were left emaciated and suffering skin infections and limb injuries.

An agreed set of facts, tendered to court state RSPCA inspectors attended Richmond’s Lisarow home on August 11 following reports of concerns for a number of reptiles in his care.

Inspectors activated body worn cameras and inspected Richmond’s collection of about 21 reptiles including snakes, lizards, turtles, two frogs and a small saltwater crocodile.

Mark Richmond at one of his shows

A Bearded Dragon and a Spencer’s Monitor were seized “as both were found to be in very poor condition”.

“Written directions were issued for all of the remaining animals present regarding feeding, watering, heating, UV lighting and cleanliness,” the facts stated.

A Bearded Dragon similar to the one seized. Picture: Toby Zerna

The lizards were taken to Somersby Animal hospital where they were deemed to be emaciated and dehydrated.

“The Bearded Dragon also had hind limb paresis and is unable to ambulate with its hind legs, this may be due to malnutrition, hypocalcaemia, trauma or renal disease,” the facts read.

“The bearded dragon also had a necrotic tail injury which will need to be surgically removed should it recover sufficiently.”

The Bearded Dragon also had a skin infection often linked with incorrect husbandry.

“X-rays showed poor bone density on both lizards with several fractures noted on both lizards,” the facts state.

A Spencer's Monitor similar to the one seized by RSPCA inspectors.

Richmond was interviewed and told inspectors “I didn’t take any actions which I should have” and “in hindsight I should have taken it to a vet to be properly euthanased”.

“In the current COVID climate without having money coming in, I was cutting many corners as possible so I can save money,” he told RSPCA inspectors.

About the Spencer’s Monitor’s poor body condition he said: “It’s a fussy eater, always loses a lot of condition, but to be honest it shouldn’t have been that bad”.

The veterinarian concluded the lizards had not had enough food for five weeks or water for three days.

If veterinary intervention was not performed the Bearded Dragon “would have quite likely died due to its emaciated state and concurrent illnesses”.

The police prosecutor told the court the RSPCA sought a prohibition order to ban Richmond from owning or caring for any animal for five years.

Representing himself, Richmond told the court that in the pandemic he made some “serious errors”.

Magistrate Michael Antrum said society would “not tolerate cruelty to animals” and while it was easy to feel sympathy “for a cute little puppy” the laws applied to all animals, including lizards and birds.

“In these matters there’s a need for general deterrence,” he said.

Richmond doing a show in Sydney in 2012.

However Magistrate Antrum said he had “come to the view that you are remorseful” and that he would decline “the RSPCA’s application for a prohibition order for five years”.

He convicted Richmond on one count each of failing to provide sufficient food and failing to provide veterinary treatment.

Richmond was sentenced to a community release order for nine months and fined $2528.14 to be paid to the RSPCA.

Richmond was also placed on community release orders for the remaining four charges for nine months without proceeding to a conviction.