Prominent British crocodile expert pleads guilty to sexually abusing and killing puppies

A well-known British expert on crocodiles and an academic has admitted to 56 charges related to cruel acts with animals, specifically involving dogs. Adam Britton, a 51-year-old zoologist based in Darwin, Australia, acknowledged his guilt during a court appearance at the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Along with the charges related to dogs, he also pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing and sharing inappropriate material involving children. Chief Justice Michael Grant strongly condemned Britton’s actions, describing them as “extremely cruel.” Britton’s actions led to the tragic deaths of 39 dogs. The judge cautioned that the details of the charges were disturbing and could be distressing to hear, urging members of the public, security personnel, and reporters to leave the courtroom before the prosecutor, Marty Aust, presented them. During the proceedings, it was revealed that Britton had a disturbing sexual interest in animals, particularly dogs. He not only subjected his own dogs to torture but also acquired animals from unsuspecting pet owners in the Darwin area. Mr. Aust explained that Britton would often establish a rapport with dog owners to gain custody of their pets, many of whom had to reluctantly part with their beloved animals due to travel or work commitments. Shocking evidence emerged that Britton had a shipping container on his property equipped with filming equipment, which he used for the sexual exploitation, torture, and killing of dogs. He also shared videos and images of these gruesome acts on online forums under various aliases. In a chilling message, he admitted, “I had repressed it. In the last few years, I let it out again, and now I can’t stop. I don’t want to.” A tip-off led to Britton’s arrest when one of the video clips was reported to the NT Animal Welfare Branch, which subsequently alerted the NT police. During the investigation, authorities seized 44 items, including computers, mobile phones, cameras, external hard drives, tools, weapons, dog-related items, and sex toys. Previously, Britton had held a senior research position at Charles Darwin University and had also been involved in producing documentaries for the BBC and National Geographic. He once hosted Sir David Attenborough on his property while the renowned broadcaster was filming a documentary series. Britton has been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced on 13th December.