Adam Britton, a British zoologist and crocodile expert has been sentenced to 249 years in prison in Australia. Britton has been found guilty of the rape, torture and killing of over 60 dogs in addition to possessing child abuse material.
Also Read: China: Man Caught Smuggling Over 100 Live Snakes Hidden in Pants
Adam Britton has pleaded guilty to over 60 charges of animal cruelty including rape, torture and murder of dogs. He faced additional charges of transmitting child abuse material.
The crimes were committed in a torture room, a shipping container located at Adam Britton’s residence in Darwin, Australia.
Adam Britton filmed and posted videos of his acts of cruelty. Over 40 dogs were sexually abused, tortured and killed by Britton with some reports indicating as many as 60 victims.
The NT Supreme Court judge Michael Grant requested that sensitive materials be handled with caution due to their potential to cause severe psychological disturbance. Britton’s offenses were described as “grotesque cruelty to animals.”
During the court hearing, Britton’s lawyer presented a new report detailing Adam Britton’s psychological state after undergoing nearly 30 hours of treatment.
Adam Britton’s defense team claimed that he had been afflicted by a condition known as paraphilia since early childhood.
Paraphilia involves abnormal sexual impulses and fantasies that can lead to social and legal issues. The lawyer addressed that Britton’s condition was taboo.
Adam Britton used a shipping container as a torture room where he sexually assaulted and killed dogs. The cruelty was extreme involving severe physical and sexual abuse before the dogs were killed.
Adam Britton recorded his acts of cruelty and posted the videos online. His actions were not limited to animal cruelty, as he was also found guilty of possessing child abuse material.
Protestors demanded the death penalty although capital punishment is abolished in Australia. The court faced pressure to ensure Britton received the maximum possible sentence to serve as a deterrent against similar acts of cruelty.
According to WebMD, paraphilia is characterized by intense sexual fantasies and urges involving unusual objects or situations.
These urges can lead to behaviors that are not typically considered sexually arousing by others and can cause distress.
Adam Britton was born in West Yorkshire in 1971. He studied Zoology at the University of Leeds and earned a PhD from the University of Bristol.
Adam Britton moved to Australia in 1996, where he established a conservation site for wild crocodiles called Big Gecko.
He was a senior researcher at Charles Darwin University and collaborated with figures like Sir David Attenborough and Prince Harry. Britton’s work with crocodiles was featured by the BBC and National Geographic.
Also Read: Massive Data Breach at AT&T Exposes Call and Text Records of Millions
Adam Britton led a secret life of extreme animal cruelty and bestiality. He used online platforms like Telegram to share videos and engage with other like-minded abusers.
Over two years, Britton acquired 42 dogs from families unable to keep them, often through Gumtree, an online classifieds platform. He described experiencing pleasure from watching children cry as he took their pets away.
Adam Britton converted a shipping container on his property into a torture room where he raped, tortured and killed dogs. His own pets, Ursa and Bolt were also victims of his abuse.
Adam Britton faced 60 charges including bestiality, aggravated animal cruelty and possession and transmission of child abuse material.
He was arrested in 2022 after an online sleuth identified a collar in one of his videos and alerted authorities.
Britton broke down in court as the severity of his crimes was revealed with the maximum possible sentence being 249 years.
The court proceedings were by emotional testimonies and detailed summaries of his actions described by the judge as confronting and distressing.
Britton’s defense team said that he suffered from paraphilia, a condition involving abnormal sexual behaviors and fantasies. This condition was cited as a factor that influenced his actions over the two-year period.
The defense introduced reports from 30 sessions with a psychologist claiming Britton now felt remorse for his crimes. Judge Michael Grant ordered psychiatric evaluation to assess his mental state.
Britton’s sentencing has been postponed multiple times causing frustration among activists and the people.
The case was rescheduled to August 8 with further evidence and psychological reports to be considered.
The final hearing was adjourned after the presentation of the new psychological report. The court will reconvene in August to consider this new information before delivering the final verdict.
Also Read: Archegos Founder Bill Hwang Found Guilty Over Fraud Case
