TIGER MAN GUILTY
Court photograph
A New York man has admitted keeping a 400lb tiger as a pet in his apartment.
Antoine Yates pleaded guilty to "reckless endangerment" by harbouring Ming, a two year-old Siberian Bengal tiger.
The big cat, and an alligator, were found at his home in October last year.
Yates said he admitted the offence to save his mother from being prosecuted.
"It seemed like the District Attorney was taking this personal and I didn't want him to hurt my mum. He can do whatever to me, but I will not let him do anything to my mother."
Yates was arrested in Philadelphia where he had gone for treatment of a deep bite on his right leg, inflicted by Ming.
His mother was arrested several days later and both had faced up to seven years in prison on the reckless endangerment charge.
Yates will remain free until his sentencing in September when the judge indicated he will probably not serve more than six months behind bars.
He said he wanted to rededicate his life to animals and perhaps open a wildlife reserve.
Ming, who ate 25 chicken thighs a day, is now living at a sanctuary in Ohio. The alligator is being looked after in Indiana
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