African wildcat owner fined £4,000 for keeping it as pet in London home

An African wildcat owner has been fined £4,000 for keeping it as a pet in his London home, as the animal is held at a secret location to avoid rescue attempts.

James Brown, 36, has owned Zena since she was a kitten and insisted she is a “big soft pussycat” who is “entirely tame” – and even plays with his young daughter.

However, neighbours in Roehampton, south west London, reported Brown to the police in 2018 after they saw the family pet peering out of a window in the detached property.

Zena, who is 5ft tall when she stands on her hind legs, was taken to a secure holding centre and has since been transferred to a specialist wildlife facility in the UK.

Her location is being kept secret as it is feared Brown may “try to rescue” her, according to prosecutors. 

The beauty salon boss, of Roehampton House, Wandsworth, previously admitted one count of keeping a dangerous wild animal without a licence.

He did not attend his sentencing hearing at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court this week.

In his absence, District Judge Adrian Turner ordered him to pay £4,000 to cover the re-homing of Zena, her handling and casework.

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