Man kept alligator as pet 'cos chicks dug it'

An American man told police he kept an alligator in his kitchen because "chicks dig it".

Dewayne Yarbrough, 43, was arrested after local officers in Ford Heights, Illinois received a tip-off that he had been keeping the scaly creature in his house.

They were less than impressed when Dewayne told them he kept the alligator as a pet to impress women and deliberately underfed it to keep it at a manageable size.

A spokesperson for Cook County Sheriff's office confirmed he was charged with possession of a dangerous animal.

They said: "He stated that he kept the alligator as a pet because it attracted women."