Pet owners in Wisbech have been left out of pocket after the owner of a local specialist pet shop cleared out his store and left – after taking deposits for goods from customers.

Wisbech Standard: A sign in the window of Fangtasia Reptile Emporium, which is now closed.A sign in the window of Fangtasia Reptile Emporium, which is now closed. (Image: Archant)

It is believed that Andi Shortland, owner of Fangtasia Reptile Emporium, cleared out his rented unit on Lambeth Leisure Park in Wisbech overnight on Tuesday, despite taking deposits from a number of customers earlier in the month.

One of those customers is Wendy Robinson, who put an £85 deposit down on a tortoise table over two weeks ago.

She said: “I’d been recommended to the shop by someone on the market in King’s Lynn, and I put a deposit down on a tortoise table worth £160.

“The owner told me that he’d order the table in and that he’d take the rest of the money once it arrived in about 10 days’ time.

“Two weeks passed and I hadn’t heard anything, so I gave him a call and he said that he was having problems with his landlord.”

Mrs Robinson, 35, then called Steve Seccer, owner of Pond World and landlord of the unit which Fangtasia occupied, who told her that the unit had been cleared out and Mr Shortland was nowhere to be seen.

Mr Seccer’s partner, Vanessa Hunt, who works at Pond World, said: “He’s [Mr Shortland] been in the unit for no time at all.

“We’ve had some of his customers come into our store about it and we’ve had to get in some reptile food in case his customers need it.”

“He’s run up severe arrears and we haven’t heard from him for days. We will be taking legal action.”

Fangtasia Reptile Emporium opened in Norfolk Street, Wisbech, in October last year, before moving to Lambeth Leisure Park in July.

Mr Shortland was unavailable for comment.