Ananova:

A New York man has been locked up - for taking his snake for a walk.

Curtis Dewberry, 35, was spotted walking down a major road with the 14ft Burmese python wrapped around his body.

He was seen on Montauk Highway, Long Island, by an officer for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals who called the police.

Dewberry has been charged with animal cruelty and failure to protect the public against dangerous wildlife.

He is being held in custody. The 70lb snake will be sent to an out-of-state reptile habitat, reports Newsday.

Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia and need temperatures of at least 45 degrees to survive.

SPCA Capt Robert Aversano said: "The fact that he was out in the cold weather was not good for the animal," he said, adding that the snake was "resting comfortably."

A witness to the arrest said: "He was just walking by with a snake. He wasn't doing anything wrong.

"I asked him, 'Is that real?' And he said, 'Yeah.' Next thing I know, he was being arrested."