A woman has avoided jail for trading endangered tiger skin without a licence.

Dovile Vaitkeviciute was yesterday (Thursday, September 29) given a six-month sentence suspended for two years at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, 180 hours of community service and a £685 fine.

Officers from the Met's Wildlife Crime Unit came across a sales advertisement for a “Javan” tiger skin rug on an online auction site under the seller name of “Mr Muffins Tiny Shop.”

Police searched Vaitkeviciute's home in Mark Road, Haringey on May 23, 2014 and several skins were seized.

Vaitkeviciute, 31, knew she needed an official certificate to trade skins, having previously owned one, but did not have one when searched.

Police say she tried to claim the Javan skin came from before 1947 – making it an antique and able to be sold without a licence – but it was found to be from the 1970s.

During the investigation, Vaitkeviciute offered another rug for sale online from what she said was a 'Bali' Tiger. She claimed it had been a gift from someone in Italy and was made before 1947, but she was found to have lied on both counts.

Detective Constable Sarah Bailey of the Met's Wildlife Crime Unit said: "There are guidelines for dealers in endangered species and in some cases it is clear that the dealers are aware of the regulations but take the decision to disregard them for financial gain.”

Vaitkeviciute, who now lives in Trinity Avenue, Nottingham, pleaded guilty on September 8.