A FORMER football manager kept four crocodiles in his bungalow without a licence, a court was told.

Christopher Weller even moved into the specially-converted loft of his home in Strood and allowed the crocodiles free reign of his living room, which included a 6ft by 6ft rock pool built into the floor.

Mr Weller, 55, who took Gravesend and Northfleet FC to an FA Cup third round tie at Aston Villa in 1996, had turned his home into a menagerie, Medway magistrates heard.

The bungalow also contained four iguanas, two parrots, four birds, two monitor lizards and a variety of tropical fish, toads and crickets.

Mr Weller, a warder at Rochester Prison, admitted failing to apply for a Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) licence for the four caiman crocodiles.

The court was told he built the rock pool in his living room for them and fed them on a diet of fish, and dead rats, mice and chicks.

He got his first croc after appearing with his range of pets on the BBC1 show, Football Focus, during Gravesend's cup run.

Caimans can grow up to 7ft and weigh as much as 70lbs. They are native to South America and are an endangered species.

Colin Sacre, prosecuting for Medway Council, told magistrates how a neighbour had tipped off the council about the crocodiles on March 18 last year.

He said: "The next day an officer went to her house, expecting to find some iguanas but was shocked to look through the window to see two adult crocodiles."

The following day policemen, locksmiths, council officers, vets and members of the Reptile Trust forced their way into the bungalow and seized the caiman - Jack, Jill, Rex and Willow.

The creatures were then driven with a police escort to the Reptile Trust in Newcastle, before being transported to a sanctuary in Portugal in May at the expense of the Reptile Trust charity.

Michael Segen, defending, said: "Mr Weller had intended to apply for a licence, but wanted to finish a conversion of his home first. He stressed he was devoted to his animals and took every care and precaution to make sure they weren't a danger to others.

Magistrates gave Mr Weller a two-year conditional discharge and decided not to ban him from applying for a DWA licence again. He was ordered to pay £700 costs.