Two men from Westbury and Dilton Marsh have been banned from keeping fish after they admitted charges brought against them by the RSPCA, following what they described as a drunken neknomination (online drinking) challenge.
Terry Gallop and Jason Williams were both banned from keeping fish for two years after the prank, which was filmed by Williams and carried out by Gallop who was celebrating his 29th birthday.
Gallop, of Lansdown Close, Dilton Marsh, can be seen filling a pint glass with a list of ingredients, including lager, tomato ketchup, vinegar, mint sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and Jack Daniels and Coke.
He then mixes it up, tips in two goldfish and drinks the mixture, including the fish. The pair appeared before Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on 18th August when Gallop admitted one charge under section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act for not meeting the welfare needs of two guppy type fish on 3rd February this year. He was also fined £818 in total, which included his half of court costs and a statutory penalty.
Williams, 28, of Paxmans Road, Westbury, admitted one offence under section 44 of the Magistrates’ Court Act 1980 of aiding and abetting Gallop. He was fined £988 in total, which also included his half of court costs and a statutory penalty.
The RSPCA were alerted to the video by someone who had seen it after it had been posted online.
RSPCA inspector Miranda Albinson said, “These gentlemen may have been in high spirits as part of the birthday celebrations, but it is quite clearly not acceptable behaviour when it is detrimental to an animal’s welfare. Hopefully this case sends out a clear message from the courts that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
