A snake shop boss who kept animals in the cold and dark has been banned from keeping the exotic creatures for three years.

RSPCA inspectors were horrified when they raided Indigo Reptiles in Burgess Hill to find snakes and lizards living in fish tanks with no electric ultraviolet light.

A 5ft-long monitor lizard, called Big Boy, had half his tail missing with the stump of the bone poking through.

Emaciated snakes had to be rushed for emergency veterinary treatment.

One hognosed snake was sharing a tank with two other dead and decaying reptiles. Several of the creatures had to be put down.

Shop owner Nathan Ring, 25, and employee David Jupp were yesterday found guilty of 16 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals including boas, bearded dragons and geckos after a three-day trial before magistrates in Crawley.

Ring, 25, of Stonefield Way, Burgess Hill, was also found guilty of keeping animals in inadequate accommodation.

He was cleared of one charge of offering sick animals for sale and one charge of not supplying adequate food.

Imposing the ban and costs of £2,000, chairman of the bench June Romaine told Ring no extra fine would be imposed, saying: "We feel depriving you of your passion for these animals is punishment enough."

The court earlier heard how he had taken in sick pets to try to nurture them back to health but had taken on too much work Ring told the court he had reached "breaking point" but said he never intended the creatures to suffer.

He said he was getting back on top of things when the RSPCA paid a visit on August 8 last year.

Jupp, 48, of Junction Road, Burgess Hill, was banned from keeping reptiles for one year and ordered to pay £300 costs.

Ring has been given two weeks to find a new home for his own pet bearded dragon.

Mrs Romaine said: "Both of you were well motivated but you took on too many animals and couldn't cope. You did your best but it was not good enough."

After the case, RSPCA inspector Melissa Cox said she thought the ban was too short.