British crocodile expert admits raping and torturing dozens of dogs at his animal shelter

A highly respected British expert in the field of crocodiles has recently pleaded guilty to a total of 60 charges related to bestiality and the possession of child abuse material. The Australian court, where the case was heard, was presented with evidence that Adam Britton had filmed himself engaging in the cruel torture of numerous dogs, resulting in the death of almost all of them.

These disturbing videos were then shared online, alongside his access to child abuse material. Britton, a prominent zoologist who has contributed to esteemed productions by the BBC and National Geographic, will face sentencing at a later date.

During the hearing at the Northern Territory (NT) Supreme Court on Monday, the prosecution outlined the extensive evidence against Britton. Due to the explicit and horrifying nature of the crimes committed by Britton, the judge deemed it necessary to caution individuals about the graphic content and advised them to leave the courtroom. Chief Justice Michael Grant expressed concern that the facts of the case could potentially cause severe emotional distress, leading him to make the uncommon decision of excusing security officers and junior court officials from the proceedings, as reported by local media.

According to prosecutors, Britton has exhibited a “sadistic sexual interest” in animals since at least 2014. In addition to exploiting his own pets, he has coerced other dog owners into relinquishing their animals. Britton utilized the online marketplace platform Gumtree Australia to identify individuals who were often reluctantly giving up their pets due to travel or work obligations.

He would establish a “rapport” with these individuals to negotiate taking custody of the animals. If contacted by the previous owners for updates on their former pets, Britton would provide them with “false narratives” and outdated photographs.

In reality, Britton was subjecting the animals to abuse within a shipping container on his property, which he had outfitted with recording equipment. The court heard that Britton referred to this space as a “torture room.” He would then share footage of his crimes online under pseudonyms. Eventually, a video of Britton’s actions was brought to the attention of NT police, who arrested him in April 2022.

During the 18-month period preceding his arrest, the individual in question subjected 42 dogs to acts of abuse, tragically resulting in the death of 39 of them. Following his arrest, Britton has been held in custody and is scheduled to appear in court for a sentencing hearing in December. Originally hailing from West Yorkshire, Britton relocated to Australia more than two decades ago to pursue a career involving crocodile conservation.

Possessing a PhD in zoology, the 51-year-old had established a distinguished international reputation for his expertise, holding an esteemed academic position at Charles Darwin University. Notably, he had the privilege of hosting renowned broadcaster David Attenborough during the filming of a segment for the Life in Cold Blood docuseries on his property.