A MAN convicted of stealing a chameleon from a pet shop claimed he only realised he had the lizard when shoppers pointed out it was sitting on his head.

Mark Wilson, 52, walked out of the pet shop, on the Isle of Wight, without paying for the £225 baby chameleon.

But Wilson, who admitted a charge of theft, said he has 'no intention' of stealing the exotic lizard.

He said he only became aware when people in the street began pointing at him and saying it was on his head.

Wilson then took the animal home, made a little box for it and did some research into what the exotic pets ate and went to buy crickets to feed it.

When police visited his home, it was found in his bedroom in a box on the windowsill and its owner, Wight Vipers in Ryde High Street, confirmed it was the one that had been stolen,

Mitigating for Wilson during a hearing at Isle of Wight magistrates' today, Barry Arnett said: "He did not go out with the intention of stealing anything, particularly a chameleon.

Wilson admitted to the theft but had a different version of events.

He said he had been in the shop, went to the tank and opened it to play with the lizard.

He said it had gone on to his arm and later realised it had crawled up the back of his neck to his head. He said he wanted to keep it as a pet.

For Wilson, Arnett, said the case was 'very unusual.'

Mr Arnett said: "He is adamant he went into the shop with no intention to steal anything.

"By the time he left the shop, he was not aware it was on his person.

"He was walking up the street and people were pointing at him and saying it was on his head."

Mr Arnett added Wilson took the animal home, made a little box for it and did some research into what the exotic pets ate and went to buy crickets to feed it.

He said: "He did not go out with the intention of stealing anything, particularly a chameleon."

Magistrates fined Wilson, of Green Street, Ryde, £80 for the theft and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £30 surcharge.