A leading crocodile expert and academic at Charles Darwin University has been jailed for more than 10 years for his “grotesque” depravity and cruelty in torturing and killing dozens of dogs.
Adam Robert Corden Britton was sentenced in Darwin Supreme Court on Thursday after previously pleading guilty to 56 offences relating to the torture and sexual exploitation of more than 42 dogs on his rural property.
Chief Justice Michael Grant warned the public he would have to describe Britton’s crimes, which included “grotesque cruelty to animals”.
“Your depravity is beyond any ordinary human conception,” Judge Grant told Britton.
Britton began offending in 2014 until his arrest in April 2022 after one of the videos of his crimes, which he had shared online, was anonymously provided to animal welfare authorities in the Northern Territory.
Members of the public gallery at times sobbed and gasped as details were read out of Britton’s extensive and violent crimes, which resulted in the deaths of 39 dogs, including nine puppies.
Britton remained in the dock wearing a black suit and grey shirt and did not visibly react to Judge Grant’s comments during sentencing.
Animal rights activists had previously demonstrated outside the courtroom holding signs labeling Britton a “zoosadist” who should face the death penalty.
Adam Britton (pictured)
Adam Britton (pictured) told a stranger on Telegram that he has stopped trying to suppress his violent impulses.
The agreed facts state that Britton extensively filmed his crimes and shared some of the videos with others online while encouraging them to commit similar crimes and offering advice on how to do so.
“His sheer and utter pleasure is sickeningly evident in the footage,” Judge Grant said.
Britton was also convicted of possessing and transmitting “the worst category” of child sexual abuse material.
As well as torturing his own dogs, Britton obtained other canines from Gumtree Australia from unsuspecting owners in the Darwin region.
In 2016, Britton uploaded a photo of one of her dogs, Bolt, as a puppy (pictured)
The court heard 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 dogs on online forums under pseudonyms.
Britton has been in pretrial detention since his arrest.
Britton was a leading Northern Territory crocodile expert and a senior researcher at the CDU.
It is alleged that none of his crimes were against reptiles.
Britton was sentenced to 10 years and five months with a non-parole period of six years, backdated to his arrest in April 2022.
Judge Grant ordered that Britton be prohibited from owning or possessing any mammalian animals for the remainder of his natural life.
But Britton’s lawyer said it was “an extreme measure.”
“We certainly have no qualms that this is a case where such an order would be appropriate, but a life sentence with all animals for a person who is motivated to seek treatment and has reasonable prospects of rehabilitation would be too extreme.”
Britton’s attorney also read a written apology from his client in court.
“I take full responsibility for the degrading crimes I committed against dogs,” he said.
‘I deeply regret the pain and trauma I caused to innocent animals and consequently to my family, friends and community members that I affected. I let them all down and I am truly sorry.
Adam Britton (centre) with his wife Erin (left) and David Attenborough (right) during the filming of a BBC documentary
‘I now recognize that I have been battling a rare paraphilic disorder for much of my life and that shame and fear prevented me from seeking the proper help I needed.’
Britton said “no amount of words can express how sorry and ashamed I am, or undo what I did,” but he was “determined to prove that I am better than this.”
“I will seek long-term treatment and find a path to redemption,” he said.
‘Please give my family the space they deserve to heal, they were not aware of this or involved in any way.’