The python has been named Gary by police officers

A MOTHER was stunned to see an escaped 9ft-long python slither its way up to her toddler in the garden.

The ball python, also known as a royal python, was discovered two weeks ago in Seda Sarica’s back garden in St John’s Way, Archway.

Her 20-month-old son Kaya was playing in the back garden and started screaming.

“I turned around to see what he was excited about, and it was a lovely snake,” Ms Sarica said.

“I grabbed my son and put him inside, and then I closed all the windows and doors. We have draught vents in the walls at home, and I was terrified it would come in through there.

“They told me the snake was about three years old and had recently eaten, so it wasn’t a threat to me or my son – it could have just eaten a rat from the street.”

Ms Sarica called the police who came and helped remove the “metre-and-a-half-long” serpent, which they named Gary.

“I had three units turn up at my house, and the next day my neighbours came up to me to ask if I was OK,” she said.

Seda Sarica and her son Kaya who was playing in the garden when the snake was discovered

“My mum lives in that house, and I’m just happy it wasn’t her that found it, because in Turkey she was bitten by a snake as a child so now she’s terrified of them.

“She’s already saying she doesn’t want to go back home. She loves gardening, but I don’t think she’ll be going into the garden any more.”

According to snake experts, Gary could not be a threat to humans.

“I understand that people are scared of snakes, but rest assured that he’s not dangerous. Unless you’re a rat or a mouse, you’ve nothing to worry about,” said Chris Newman, the director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, who added that royal pythons are “very endearing” and “incredibly passive”.

He said: “They make great pets. Because you’re warm, the snake is content to come and watch TV with you. I don’t believe for one second that the snake is actually watching TV, but he’s content to curl up and be warm.”

Snakes are “escape artists” who will go where it’s warmest, which in the summer months is often outdoors. Mr Newman said that a good rule of thumb is that “if a snake can get its head through a hole, the rest of the body will follow, even though royal pythons are tubby”.

“They’re quite slow, lethargic animals until they want to move. People put them on the settee and go to make a cup of tea and the snake takes the opportunity to disappear,” he said.

“We only manage to get 10 per cent of lost snakes back to their owner. People get embarrassed – there’s a stigma to losing your pet. If somebody doesn’t report it, then it’s difficult to get the animal back to them.”

He added: “If Gary’s owner has lost a snake and it has escaped and it’s accidental, I would encourage them to try and report it. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

The Metropolitan Police have assured the Tribune that Gary is being well cared for.

If you know Gary, please call 101 with reference CAD7068/10Aug.