A prominent British crocodile expert, Adam Britton, has been sentenced to 10 years and five months in an Australian prison after pleading guilty to a series of shocking crimes that have horrified the nation. Britton, who is known for his work with the BBC and National Geographic, admitted to sexually abusing and torturing dozens of dogs, as well as possessing and distributing child abuse material.
The 53-year-old zoologist, once respected in his field, was found to have filmed himself committing these horrific acts, with many of the tortured animals succumbing to their injuries. Britton shared the gruesome videos online under various pseudonyms, escaping detection for years until a clue in one of his videos led to his arrest in April 2022. A subsequent search of his rural property in Darwin revealed child abuse material on his laptop.
Details of Britton’s crimes are so graphic that Chief Justice Michael Grant of the Northern Territory (NT) Supreme Court warned that the case could cause “nervous shock.” As the harrowing facts were read aloud in court, several spectators were visibly distressed, with some leaving the courtroom, while others, overwhelmed with emotion, cursed at Britton. At times, Britton appeared to show remorse, hanging his head and reaching for tissues.
Justice Grant condemned Britton’s actions as “devious,” highlighting the “unalloyed pleasure” he derived from inflicting pain on the animals, calling it “sickeningly evident.” He further remarked that Britton’s behavior “falls entirely outside any ordinary human conception.”
Britton, who will be eligible for parole in September 2028, has also been banned from owning any mammals for the remainder of his life. His lawyer argued that his actions were driven by a rare disorder characterized by intense, atypical sexual interests.
In a letter read out in court, Britton expressed deep remorse for his “demeaning crimes,” apologizing to the victims, his family, and the community. He emphasized that his family was unaware and uninvolved in his actions and stated his intention to seek long-term treatment and “find a path towards redemption.”