Coventry man charged with keeping tiger in his garage

A Midlands dad has been charged with trading in endangered species after a tiger was allegedly discovered in his freezer. Police who raided Alan Dudley’s suburban home in Coventry are said to have found his garage and fridge packed with an array of exotic dead animals.

The freezer alone allegedly contained the bodies of the tiger, lemurs, a Goeldi’s monkey, sparrowhawks, buzzards and owls. The remains of a chimpanzee, marmosets, loggerhead turtles, and the skulls of a baby seal and penguin were also discovered in his garage, it is claimed.

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Mr Dudley, who is married with children, was arrested after his home was raided by West Midlands Police and Customs and Excise investigators. He has been charged with 10 counts relating to alleged breaches of the Customs and Excise Management Act, as well as of the Control and Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 1997.

The 52 year-old first appeared at Coventry Magistrates’ Court on March 5 in connection with the charges. His last hearing was on June 3 at the same court. He is due to attend a plea and case management hearing on July 23 at Coventry Crown Court. He has not yet entered a plea and is expected to do so at his next hearing. Mr Dudley was arrested by West Midlands Police in February 2008, but has only recently been charged.