A leading crocodile expert and academic at Charles Darwin University has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for his “grotesque” depravity and cruelty in torturing and killing dozens of dogs.
Adam Robert Corden Britton was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Darwin on Thursday after previously pleading guilty to 56 offences relating to the torture and sexual exploitation of more than 42 dogs on his property.
Chief Justice Michael Grant warned the public gallery that he would have to describe Britton’s offence, which included “grotesque cruelty to animals”.
“Your depravity is beyond the realm of any normal human understanding,” Judge Grant told Britton.
Despite this, Britton’s lawyer argued that a lifetime ban on owning animals was an “extreme measure” and that he should be allowed to own or live with any animal other than “mammals.”
Britton began his criminal activities in 2014 and continued until April 2022, when a video of his horrific acts, which he had shared online, was anonymously passed on to Northern Territory animal welfare authorities.
The crowd in the public gallery sobbed and at times gasped as details of Britton’s massive and violent crime, which left 39 dogs, including nine puppies, dead, were read out.
Britton stood in the dock, dressed in a black suit and gray shirt, and showed no visible reaction to Judge Grant’s statements.
Animal rights activists had earlier demonstrated outside the court with signs saying Britton was a “zoosadist” who should receive the death penalty.
Adam Britton (pictured)
Adam Britton (pictured) told a stranger on Telegram that he has stopped suppressing his violent tendencies
The agreed facts involved Britton extensively filming his offences and sharing some of the videos with others online, while encouraging them to commit similar offences and giving them advice on how to do so.
“Your pure and unadulterated enjoyment is disgustingly evident in the recorded material,” Judge Grant said.
Britton was also convicted of possessing and distributing “the worst category” of child abuse material.
Britton not only tortured his own dogs, but also stole other dogs from unsuspecting owners in the Darwin area of Gumtree in Australia.
In 2016, Britton uploaded a photo of one of his dogs, Bolt, as a puppy (pictured)
The court heard that Britton began abusing his dogs, Ursa and Bolt (pictured), in 2014.
The former academic, who once hosted world-famous presenter and biologist David Attenborough, shared videos and images of himself sexually exploiting the dogs on online forums under pseudonyms.
Britton has been in custody since his arrest.
Britton was a leading expert on NT crocodiles and a senior researcher at the CDU.
It is not alleged that he was guilty of crimes against reptiles.
Britton was sentenced to 10 years and 5 months in prison, suspended for six years, backdated to his arrest in April 2022.
Judge Grant has ruled that Britton will not be allowed to own or have any mammals on his property for the rest of his life.
But Britton’s lawyer called it “an extreme measure.”
‘We certainly do not agree that such a measure would be appropriate in this case, but a life sentence and all the animals for someone who is motivated to seek treatment and has reasonable prospects of rehabilitation would go too far.’
Britton’s attorney also read an apology her client had written in court.
“I take full responsibility for the degrading crimes I committed against dogs,” he said.
“I deeply regret the pain and trauma I have caused to innocent animals and in turn to my family, friends and the community members I have affected. I have let you all down and for that I am truly sorry.
Adam Britton (centre) with his wife Erin (left) and David Attenborough (right) during filming for a BBC documentary
‘I now realize that I have struggled with a rare paraphilic disorder for much of my life and that shame and fear prevented me from seeking the right help I needed.’
Britton said, “There are no words that can describe how sorry I am and how ashamed I am, nor can they undo what I have done,” but he was “determined to prove that I am better than this.”
“That I will undergo long-term treatment and find a path to salvation,” he said.
“Please give my family the space they deserve to heal. They were not aware of this and were not involved in any way.”