A prominent British crocodile expert has been sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison in Australia after admitting to sexually abusing numerous dogs, a case that has shocked the nation.
Warning: This story contains content that some readers may find distressing.
Adam Britton, a well-known zoologist who has contributed to BBC and National Geographic projects, pleaded guilty to 56 charges related to bestiality and animal cruelty.
He also admitted to four counts of accessing child abuse material.
The Northern Territory (NT) Supreme Court was told that the 53-year-old had filmed himself torturing the animals, leading to the deaths of nearly all of them, and then shared the videos online under various pseudonyms.
His abuse went undetected for years until a clue was discovered in one of his videos, leading to his arrest in April 2022. A search of his rural property in Darwin uncovered child abuse material on his laptop.
The details of Britton’s crimes were so graphic that Chief Justice Michael Grant warned they could cause “nervous shock,” describing the case as “grotesque.”
As the horrific facts were recounted in court, some members of the public were visibly distressed, with some rushing out, while others in the gallery cried and mouthed insults at Britton.
Britton, at times, lowered his head and reached for tissues.
Justice Grant condemned Britton’s actions, calling them “devious” and noting the “sheer delight” Britton seemed to take in torturing the animals.
He stated, “[Your] depravity falls entirely outside any ordinary human conception.”
With time already served, Britton could be eligible for parole in April 2028. He has also been banned from owning any mammals for the remainder of his life.
Britton’s lawyer argued that his behavior was driven by a rare disorder that caused intense and atypical sexual interests.
In court on Thursday, a letter from Britton was read, in which he apologized for his “demeaning crimes.” He expressed deep regret for the pain and trauma he caused to innocent animals and to his family, friends, and the community.
He also emphasized that his family was not aware of or involved in his actions, writing, “I will seek long term treatment and… I will find a path towards redemption.”
Source-BBC
