The kidnap victim was not in court to see his abductor sentenced yesterday. Zeus, a giant African tortoise, had far more important things to do, such as eating to build up strength for winter.

In captivity he had suffered shell damage from being dropped, indigestion from being fed the wrong diet and injured feet from trying to escape.

The 7st tortoise, with at least 30 smaller ones, was stolen from a sanctuary in Cornwall in August. He was recovered when a woman who had bought him in a pet shop recognised him from a nationwide appeal.

Danny Woodley, of North London, pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing Zeus and four other tortoises in a midnight raid on the Tortoise Garden sanctuary in Sticker, near St Austell, while he was on holiday near by.After the hearing Joy Bloor, who runs the sanctuary, said Zeus had been put in a suitcase, which had been dropped, and he had been “traumatised” by his unfamiliar surroundings. Mrs Bloor, who has more than 400 tortoises, said: “He was in an awful state when I first got him back. He was taken in a suitcase — his feet were bleeding because he’d tried to get out.

“He also had diarrhoea because of what he’d been fed on. He was away from me about 3½ weeks and he was traumatised. It took him about a month to recover but he’s recovered beautifully now.”

Bodmin magistrates heard that Zeus was worth £6,000. He had been bought by an unsuspecting pet shop in Kent, then sold for £1,250 to Karen Todd, of Sittingbourne, who named him Gorgeous George. Mrs Todd was devastated when she realised that Gorgeous George was the missing Zeus, but she telephoned Mrs Bloor.

Woodley got a 10-week suspended sentence and 80 hours’ community work, and must pay £164.36 compensation to Mrs Bloor.

The chairman of the bench David Pinn said: “We regard the stress to the animals as a significant factor.”

Since the theft security at the sanctuary has been stepped up with the help of contributions from wellwishers from all around the world. There are still 28 stolen tortoises unaccounted for and Mrs Bloor said that despite taking precautions she still feared for the animals’ security at the sanctuary.

She added: “I’m just numb really. I’m relieved this man was caught and five of the tortoises were retrieved but I don’t know if I will ever see the other stolen tortoises again. I hope so. We’ve obviously become a prime target. We were here 11 years without a problem before this summer. Now all this has happened and although we’ve really beefed up security you can’t stop yourself worrying about the future.”

Zeus is estimated to be 15 years old and could live for another 150 years. By the time he is fully grown, at about 30, he will be the size and weight of a large trunk and probably safe from a lone kidnapper.

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