A prankster who was filmed swallowing a live goldfish for a “neknominate” challenge has been handed a hefty fine.
Timber merchant Daniel Challis, 24, downed the pet fish after a night of drinking while Cheryl Stevens, 27, filmed the stunt and posted the video on Facebook.
The video shows the goldfish being gulped down by Challis in what the RSPCA called an “unpleasant death” for the fish.
Magistrates were shown the video of the incident, which took place in Paignton in Devon in March 2016.
RSPCA inspector Jo Pearson said: "The goldfish was clearly alive in the footage and would have suffered an unpleasant death.
"Hopefully the outcome of this case demonstrates to people who think that such stunts might be funny that they're actually acts of cruelty, and the courts clearly take a dim view of them."
Challis, of Westhill Road, Torquay, and Stevens, of Brecon Close, Paignton, were banned from keeping fish for five years.
They were both ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,085.25 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge.
They were both convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the fish at Plymouth Magistrates Court.
