A crocodile expert from the UK has pleaded guilty to torturing and raping more than 40 dogs – including his own pets Bolt Usra- at his Australian animal shelter after luring owners to give him custody of their beloved canines.
51 year old Adam Britton, who grew up in West Yorkshire before moving to Australia, began his offending in 2014 and tortured and sexually exploited more than 42 dogs until he was arrested in April 2022.
Britton who is married, sexually abused his own dogs for almost a decade. He later used ‘Gumtree Australia’ to source more dogs to torture and kill at his sprawling rural estate at McMinns Lagoon on the northern tip of Australia.
He would even film himself whilst committing the crimes and post the disgusting material online, the court heard.
The leading zoologist who has worked with the National Geographic and BBC seemed poised as he pleaded guilty to 47 counts of animal cruelty at the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory yesterday. He also pleaded guilty to four counts of transmitting child abuse material and accessing it. Britton is set to be sentenced at a later date.
Adam Britton with David Attenborough
Chief Justice Michael Grant suggested that the public and security staff leave the courtroom before the prosecutors outlined the facts of the case as the details of Britton’s crimes are so deeply disturbing. ‘These facts contain material that can only be described as grotesque and perverse acts of cruelty which is confronting and distressing and which in my assessment have the potential to cause nervous shock,’ he said.
Erin, Britton’s wife, a wildlife ranger who was unaware of her husband’s heinous and disturbing crimes and has since reportedly changed her surname.
Britton’s pet dog
During the hearing, Britton gloated about how he would tell pet owners on Gumtree Australia that his old dog had died of cancer and he wanted a ‘new family member’ – and that the tactic seldomly failed. ‘Owner is looking for a good ‘forever home’ for their beloved pooch, make sure you offer them one … telling them you want a new family member after your old dog died from cancer last year hardly ever fails,’ Britton posted online.
The Northern Territory Animal Welfare Branch received a video with the criminal activity and passed it on to police who arrested Britton in April 2022. At the time, police seized 44 items including computers, mobile telephones, cameras, external hard drives, tools, weapons, sex toys and dog paraphernalia.
Britton’s name was concealed by the courts to ensure media attention would not bias a jury against him when he was charged last year.
After he pleaded guilty on Monday, the order was lifted.
