Sydney, August 8: Adam Britton, a former BBC contributor and zoologist renowned for his work with crocodiles, has been sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison by the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Australia on August 8. The 53-year-old Britton, who once collaborated with Sir David Attenborough, was found guilty of 56 charges related to bestiality and animal cruelty, as well as four counts of accessing child abuse material. The court revealed that Britton filmed himself torturing and killing at least 42 dogs, with his abuses spanning several decades.

In April 2022, Australian authorities received an anonymous tip-off about disturbing videos of animal abuse posted online, which led to a significant investigation. The footage, showing a man torturing multiple dogs, was traced back to Adam Britton, a renowned zoologist. A search of Britton's rural property in Darwin uncovered a shipping container converted into a "torture room," where he had abused at least 42 dogs, killing 39 of them, as reported by the BBC. The police also seized recording equipment, animal remains, and a laptop containing child abuse material. Adam Britton Faces 249-Year Jail For Raping, Killing Over 40 Dogs, Claims He’s Suffering From Paraphilia; Know All About the Abnormal Sexual Behaviour.

Defence Claims and Sentencing

Britton had used online marketplaces to acquire dogs and manipulated their previous owners with false narratives to cover his crimes. During the court hearing on July 14, Britton's defence argued that his crimes were driven by "paraphilia," a psychological condition characterised by intense and atypical sexual interests. Paraphilia involves recurrent, intense sexual fantasies or behaviours involving unusual objects or situations, which can cause significant distress or impairment. Bestiality Horror in Australia: BBC Contributor and British Wildlife Expert Adam Britton Admits Torturing, Raping and Killing 39 Dogs.

Britton's defence suggested this disorder influenced his criminal behaviour, although this claim was met with scepticism given the severity of his actions. The Northern Territory Supreme Court sentenced Britton to 10 years and five months in prison, taking into account the severity and grotesque nature of his crimes. Chief Justice Michael Grant described Britton's actions as "depraved" and "sickening," emphasising the profound impact on the community and the need for justice. The court's verdict also included a lifetime ban on owning mammals.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2024 08:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).