Wealthy Instagram model defends selling illegal snakeskin fashion in the UK

Stephanie Scolaro sold snakeskin fashion accessories on her website SS Python. Photo / Instagram

A well-known "Rich Kid of Instagram" has been called "utterly self-centered" by a judge after being caught importing fashion goods made from endangered python skin.

Stephanie Scolaro illegally ordered python skin baseball caps and bags from Indonesia via Germany to sell on her website and in boutiques.

In court she tried to save herself by saying: "I didn't know it was cruel."

The 26-year-old sold the fashion accessories on her website, SS Python, in boutiques in Mayfair and Kent and through her Instagram account, which has more than 85,000 followers, according to The Sun.

She was arrested in her home in Marylebone, West London, after importing what is assumed to be roughly £18,000 (NZD$34,700) worth of luxury goods into the UK.

She has since addressed the judge's comments claiming she's been used as an "advertising campaign" because of "who she is".

The swimwear model says she was unaware pythons were endangered and clueless about the fact that importing the goods into Britain was illegal.

She defended herself by saying: "It's not as if I killed a snake."

Scolaro, whose company has now been removed from the internet, also said she never would have started her business if she was knew it was cruel.

Speaking to The Sun, Scolaro said she was "very stressed out" and believes she's been used as "advertising campaign by the wildlife crime unit".

"I've been portrayed as an animal killer when I'm not. Loads of people walk around London wearing fur, but that's not who I am.

"I think it's just because I have a lot of followers and because of my lifestyle.

"Why are people saying luxury lifestyle? It's not luxury. I post aesthetically beautiful pictures online - I've chosen to live the way I live and travel.

"I'm being bullied; people are calling me trash and saying I should've gone to jail.

"I feel like I've been singled out but people need to accept that people make mistakes, I'm human like everyone else - no one is perfect."

Scolaro, who featured on UK reality TV show Rich Kids Of Instagram with her sister, said she "didn't sleep much" while the court battle "dragged on" and went to say she was "young" and "naive" when she set up her brand three years ago, aged 23.

According to The Sun, Judge Michael Gledhill QC deduced: "This is a young woman who, for all sorts of different reasons, is utterly self-centred — her entire life is utterly centred around herself."

The judge He also said a psychiatric report advised she suffers from various mental ilnesses: "It seems to me that the aapproach has been to throw more money at the problem and she'll be alright, but it is not alright."

Scolaro responded: "The judge today said I'm self-centred but that's not me at all. I'm not self-centred, I've always gone out of my way to help people.

"The funny thing is I've always been an animal lover, I would never harm a fly. I've always been against animal cruelty.

"I didn't even know they were endangered species. If I would've known it was animal cruelty, or they were endangered, I wouldn't have done it."

Scolaro sold snakeskin caps for up to $867. Photo / Instagram

Scolaro who lives in a £9 million (NZD$17.4 million) home in Knightsbridge, in an affluent area in London and flaunts a jet set lifestyle funded by her Italian mining tycoon father Francesco Solaro and has done her best to convey the message people are being too harsh on her.

"I think the whole [situation] is harsh because I would never voluntary go out of my way go and buy anything that is endangered."

Scolaro told The Sun she felt the judge's comments were "a bit personal and felt like I was being judged as a character" and believes the sentencing would have been different for someone else.

"If it was someone with no followers or a man in his 40s who is not so popular on social media, it would have been different.

"I was naive and want to apologise for what I did.

"I feel like I've been completely singled out and it's like I'm an advertising campaign.

"I feel like I've been bullied and I've received threats. People have said they will throw acid on my face and that I should get skinned alive — it's way out of line.

"It's not as if I killed a snake. I was 23 years old, young and naive and thought I'd set up a little brand.

"I had eight policemen pin me to the ground in my flat and arrest me at 7am.

"I now want to be part of an animal rights campaign to educate people. People can learn from my mistake."

In court Scolaro admitted she was guilty of smuggling into the country one bag, five white baseball caps, five black baseball caps and one white backpack in December 2016.

In total, police found 35 hats sold for up to £450 (NZD $867) as well as a number of large number of snakeskin bags listed for £2800 (NZD $5400) each.

She admitted she was guilty on six charges: two counts of importing goods with the intent to evade a prohibition, two counts of keeping for sale a species acquired unlawfully and two counts of selling a species unlawfully imported and was consequently given a 12 month community order and told to do 160 hours of unpaid work.