Dwayne Matthews' attorney told the Coventry Telegraph. "In his wisdom, and no doubt egged on by his inebriated friends," Matthews bought the python with the intention of re-selling it.
All was fine until the next morning. Waking up in a bit of a fog the man walked into a room where his friend was sleeping.
He was shocked to see the African rock snake coiled to strike and "rearing up at (the friend) in an S-shape, its jaws open like a cobra," the lawyer explained. Thinking quickly Matthews grabbed a blanket and threw it over the snake.