Celebrity zoologist Adam Britton tortured dogs until they died and accessed child abuse material in a case so “grotesque” an Australian judge warned security workers and court officials to leave the courthouse Monday when evidence was presented.
The 51-year-old crocodile expert, who worked with National Geographic and the BBC, abused 42 dogs – 39 of which died – in the 18 months preceding his April 2022 arrest, the latter outlet reported. Britton admitted to posting video of his activity online, where he also viewed child exploitation content.
He referred to dogs as “f–k toys” online, according to news.com.au, which said the pet perve sexually abused his own Swiss Shepherds for nearly a decade.
“I had repressed it. In the last few years I let it out again, and now I can’t stop,” he reportedly confessed on the social media platform Telegram. “I don’t want to.”
Prosecutors said the trusted zoologist’s “sadistic sexual interest” dates back to at least 2004, which is shortly after he moved from Great Britain to Australia.
Britton was accused of tormenting both his own pets and dogs belonging to people who could no longer care for their animals. He committed his heinous acts in a “torture room” set up in a shipping container on his northern Australian property near the Timor Sea. It included recording equipment.
When former pet owners inquired about the pups they left in Britton’s care, he sent old photos and falsely assured them the animals he tortured were in good hands. He reportedly shopped for dogs needing a new home on Gumtree Australia, where pets are also sold.
The court kept the defendant’s name under wraps prior to his guilty plea. Britton, who has a Ph.D. and has worked as a researcher at Charles Darwin University, will be sentenced in December.