The 49-year-old of Rodd Street, Canowindra, represented himself at court and freely admitted to possessing an exotic snake.

According to the facts tendered to the court, police responded to a call from witnesses after Touzell was seen sitting on the steps of the RTA on Brisbane Street carrying a snake in a blue shopping bag in June last year.

Police approached Touzell and questioned his identity and asked whether he was in

possession of a snake.

“Touzell responded, “Yeah, I’m minding her for a friend.”

Police requested to sight the snake. When police sighted the snake, Touzell said the snake was a Baby Diamond Python.

Police informed Touzell that it was not a Baby Diamond Python and police seized the bag.

Police consulted with a local veterinary specialist and determined that the snake was a Common Corn Snake, native to North America.

The snake is commonly imported to Australia to be kept as a pet.

The snake is considered a pest as it breeds with native snakes, affecting the pure breeding of species.

There is also risk of introduced diseases to native fauna.

The snake is held by zoos under controlled conditions.

Police attempted to contact Touzell by several means following the incident, but were unable to establish contact.

This lead to police suspecting they were provided inaccurate contact details by

Touzell.

“I was driving along the road and I saw two snakes on the road – one was alive and the other was dead,” Touzell said in court about he acquired the reptile.

“I grew up in the bush and my parents always taught me to look after the animals, so that’s what I did.”

Touzell was convicted for possessing

controlled or protected fauna, but no further penalty was given in court.