British policeman claims he was threatened with snakes

A police officer told a court in northern England that an animal lover approached him menacingly with two six-feet-long snakes during a search of a house garage packed full of reptiles and rats.

Officer Christopher Moore told Manchester Crown Court that the resident became enraged when health officers used a warrant to seize two dogs that had been making too much noise.

While Moor and the health officers were in the garage, the resident, Paul Dunn, 52, started opening cabinets containing scores of snakes as well as lizards, rats and a tortoise, before grabbing the six-foot boa constrictors out of a tank, Moore said.

Moore said that the man bellowed: าYou have got the dogs, you can have my f..(expletive) snakes, have the f...(expletive) lot!ำ

าHe gave me the impression he was going to give them to me. I feared he was going to open further glass cabinets and let all of the snakes out. And lizards and rats. Thatีs the mood he was in,ำ the officer told the court.

Moore said he and the officers ran out of the garage, trying to block the door but Dunn managed to fight his way out.

A struggle followed with the defendant lashing out at Moore and another officer before the officers could arrest him.

าDue to his aggressive manner I punched him three to four times to subdue him, your honour,ำ Moore told the judge at Manchester Crown Court.

Dunn received two black eyes and cuts and grazes to his face and body.

Dunnีs lawyer suggested Moore had simply าover-reacted on seeing the snakes.ำ

Moore replied: าI donีt think you would overreact to 108 snakes in front of you and someone threatening to open the cages.ำ