A man who kept a tigress in his shed as a family pet, terrorising his neighbours, has been fined by judges for animal cruelty.

Astonished wildlife welfare experts discovered the big cat living in an outbuilding surrounded by junk in a village garden in Starominskaya, southern Russia.

Owner Valery Grivenny claimed the tiger, which he had named Laura, was like a large pet cat and that he often took it for walks on a collar and lead.

When animal cruelty inspectors raided his property to seize the big cat, Grivenny first tried to flee with it in the passenger seat of his car.

He was held in jail for four days for resisting arrest and disobeying police officers, local media reported on January 23.

Regional prosecutors have now stated that he was fined RUB 5,000 (GBP 40) for failing to comply with animal care regulations and another RUB 2,500 (GBP 20.19) for causing harm to a restricted wild animal.

The big cat was tranquillised and rehomed at the 'Dom Tigra' refuge near Leningrad.

Footage shows authorities carrying the tigress wrapped in a red cloth after being sedated.

Judges heard that Grivenny had bought the tigress in 2021 and had no documents to prove legal ownership or a licence to keep an endangered animal.