Dozens of exotic animals – including parrots, pelicans, porcupines, iguanas, mara and agouti – have been rescued by the RSPCA after being neglected by their owner.

The animals were living in filthy conditions, most in unsuitable housing and some of them were suffering from untreated injuries.

Their owner Bradley Michael Tomes, 24, of Moss Lane, Hesketh Bank, appeared in court on Thursday for sentencing yesterday after pleading guilty to 15 offences under the Animal Welfare Act at a hearing last month.

They related to six iguanas; two mara (large rodents from South America); 16 peafowl; two pelicans; three agouti (a rodent native to America and South America); five porcupines; one green parakeet; two jardine parrots; one golden pheasant; one green winged macaw; one white necked raven and one cape parrot.

The RSPCA attended a farm on Taylors Meanygate in Tarleton on Thursday 17 January after a call from police where a number of exotic animals were being kept in squalid and unsuitable conditions and a second address on Moss Lane, Tarleton where a shed-type building at the back of the premises contained a number of animals.

RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Alison Fletcher said: “Some of these animals were species we as RSPCA inspectors of many years experience had never dealt with before, and it was a shock to see them kept in such conditions.

“Both locations were filthy, many of the animals were in accommodation that was obviously completely unsuitable, did not have access to food or water, or were suffering.

“At the farm, we found two mara inside a small plastic transportation crate on the floor of one of the make-shift buildings. Mara are a large rodent who stand up on their hind legs. The height of the crate was 300mm, or just 12 inches. The depth of the crate was 560mm, and the length was 870mm giving no real room for them to move around.

“A squalid enclosure at the same location housed three agoutis, two pelican and 13 peafowl. Four porcupines were in a pen which was wet and muddy with just a small structure for shelter – temperatures on site were close to freezing with snow and driving rain.“At the second address a macaw was found in a black crate, similar to a dog crate. The bird’s tail feathers were touching the sides of the crate.

“The iguanas were at this location too – all six of which were in poor body condition and four had injuries to their tails.”

In mitigation the court heard that Tomes had an interest in animals all of his life and had been employed as a zoo keeper. He had signed all of the animals over in February – which have been rehomed to specialist keepers – and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He had gone through a difficult break up but had now turned his life around and had a new job and new relationship.He was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, ordered to undertake 25 rehabilitation days, 120 hours community service and pay £500 costs and a £115 victim surcharge. He was disqualified from keeping all animals for five years with no appeal for two years.

DCI Fletcher said: “This was very much a joint effort between the RSPCA and Lancashire Constabulary and I’d like to thank them for their part in this investigation.”