Former zoologist Adam Britton, once hailed for his expertise in crocodile research, has been sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison for his gruesome acts of animal cruelty. His non-parole period is set to six years, and his sentence is backdated to his arrest in April 2022. Additionally, Britton has been permanently banned from purchasing or owning animals.
Britton, who had been remanded at the Darwin Correctional Centre since his arrest, pleaded guilty to 60 charges, including bestiality, animal cruelty, and possessing child abuse material. His sentence follows a shocking revelation of his double life, where he systematically tortured and murdered dozens of dogs. Britton sourced 42 dogs between 2020 and 2022, using online platforms like Gumtree, under the false pretense of providing them with a “good home.”
The disturbing crimes were carried out in a shipping container he referred to as his “torture room” on his rural property in Darwin. Britton filmed his horrific actions and sent photographs of the tortured animals to their original owners, fabricating false stories about the dogs’ well-being.
The case became even more chilling when it was revealed that Britton shared videos of the abuse and discussed his violent acts with others on the Telegram messaging app. Under the pseudonyms ‘Monster’ and ‘Cerberus,’ Britton openly incited violence and expressed excitement at the suffering of the animals.
Justice Michael Grant, who presided over the case, described Britton’s actions as “grotesque” and “unspeakable,” and emphasized the perverse pleasure Britton derived from inflicting pain. Despite a letter of remorse from Britton, the court found no genuine contrition, with the Crown attributing his actions to zoosadism—a sadistic desire to cause harm to animals.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, with calls for stricter laws and tougher penalties for animal cruelty, as activists argue that the current legislation does not adequately reflect the severity of such crimes.
