British crocodile expert sentenced to 10 years for raping, torturing, and killing dogs

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A prominent British crocodile expert, Adam Britton, has been sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison for raping, torturing, and killing dozens of dogs.

Britton, a 52-year-old zoologist based in Darwin, Australia, pleaded guilty to 56 charges of bestiality and animal cruelty at the Northern Territory Supreme Court last September.

He also admitted to four counts of accessing and transmitting child abuse material.

On Thursday, Britton was banned for life from owning or purchasing animals, as reported by Australian media.

His crimes involved the torture of 42 dogs and the deaths of 39, many of which he filmed in a shipping container on his property.

Britton will be eligible for parole after six years, according to ABC.

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Chief Justice Michael Grant condemned Britton’s “grotesque” and “unspeakable” crimes, noting that the details could cause severe psychological distress to those in the courtroom.

Despite the disturbing nature of the offenses, the judge provided some details to justify the severity of the sentence.

The court had previously heard that Britton harbored a “sadistic sexual interest” in animals, particularly dogs.

He not only tortured his own pets but also acquired dogs from unsuspecting owners in the Darwin area, often building a rapport with them before taking custody of their animals, many of whom were reluctantly given away due to the owners’ travel or work commitments.