Former SPL star investigated after claims he 'killed and ate pet iguana'

Richard Roy in action for Hamilton [Courtesy]

An animal welfare charity is investigating claims that a former Scottish top-flight footballer allegedly killed and ate an iguana.

Richard “Shaka” Roy, who played in the Scottish Premiership with Hamilton Academical and has also been capped by Trinidad and Tobago, was pictured posing with the dead lizard in a kitchen last weekend.

Bizarrely, the picture was posted on Roy's wife Cheryl's Facebook page on Saturday in which she revealed the striker would later tuck into the lizard.

After being asked by a friend if she was going to eat the lizard, Cheryl - who has given Roy the nickname Shaka - replied: "I’m definitely not eating it but Shaka will be later.

"My pal was chasing round the house earlier with its head in his hand.”

The footballer's partner then received a furious backlash and hit back at her critics on Facebook.

Ex-SPL footballer Roy with his wife Cheryl, who allegedly posted the picture on Facebook [Courtesy]

“People need to mind their own damn business," she said. "Far too many people having a lot to say about other people’s lives. If you don’t like how I live my life, remove yourself, please.”

Roy, who spent the 2016-17 season with Hamilton, has played six times for Trinidad and Tobago. Iguana meat is considered a delicacy in the Caribbean nation and is often served as a special treat at festivals.

According to the Daily Record, the Scottish SPCA confirmed they have been made aware of the photograph and a specialist team of officers is now investigating the allegations.

On Tuesday night, Cheryl broke her silence and claimed that although it was only a "joke", she has now removed it from her Facebook account.

She said: “To let you know that picture has been deleted. You’re the first person to make me aware of that (the investigation.)

“It was just a joke, we’ve got family with pets. I’ve not had one single person come to me. The investigation is completely news to me.”