Once a respected zoologist who worked alongside David Attenborough, today Adam Britton was sentenced to ten years in jail for what the judge deemed 'inconceivable depravity'.
The disgraced crocodile expert, who grew up in West Yorkshire, pled guilty to 56 offences related to the torture and sexual exploitation of more than 42 dogs on his rural Australian property.
He also admitted to four counts of accessing 'the worst category' of child abuse material.
Britton's crimes were so 'grotesque' that the judge at the Northern Territory Supreme Courtwarned the public gallery they might go into 'nervous shock'.
As the details were read aloud, members of the public rushed outside while others sobbed, gasped and mouthed insults at the disgraced zoologist.
Adam Robert Corden Britton (pictured) pled guilty to 56 offences related to the torture and sexual exploitation of more than 42 dogs
Britton was sentenced to ten years in jail and five months with a non-parole period of six years, backdated to his April 2022 arrest
His extensive and violent offending resulted in the deaths of 39 dogs, including nine puppies.
Chief Justice Michael Grant told the British-born academic: 'Your depravity falls outside any ordinary human conception'.
But how was a once respected zoologist who featured in documentaries for the likes of the BBC and National Geographic finally exposed as a serial animal abuser? MailOnline takes a deep dive into the life and crimes of Adam Britton.
What was Britton's childhood like?
Britton was born in the UK and grew up in West Yorkshire.
Although not much is known of his childhood, 'like-minded' people on secret online forums told the BBC he started molesting horses at the age of 13.
Messages from Britton revealed in court said: 'I was sadistic as a child to animals, but 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 :)'
What did Britton do for a living?
After earning a PhD in Zoology from Bristol University, Britton moved to Australia to work with crocodiles.
Britton built up a global reputation for his expertise and appeared in several BBC and National Geographic productions.
Britton was a renowned crocodile expert and senior researcher at Charles Darwin University
Adam Britton (pictured centre) hosted Sir David Attenborough (right) on his property while filming the BBC docuseries Life in Cold Blood. His wife Erin is pictured left
The crocodile expert even hosted Sir David Attenborough when the Bafta-winning BBC docuseries Life in Cold Blood was filmed on his property.
While leading a double life, Britton took up a post as a senior researcher at Charles Darwin University.
During his time down under, he met his wife Erin- a biologist and wildliferanger who once helped Prince Harry to catch a crocodile.
The couple were co-founders of consultancy company Big Gecko, which sold footage of crocodiles to TV and film directors.
Indeed their saltwater crocodile Smaug has featured in the horror film Black Water.
About six months prior to his arrest, the couple were interviewed about their research on ABC News and Triple J's news programme, Hack.
The couple filmed themselves during a Covid lockdown in 2020, feeding a freshwater crocodile on their property and posted the footage to Facebook.
In the clip, Britton said: 'Hello everyone, Adam here. Well, we're at home at the moment and we've got to feed the crocodiles.
'So what I'm going to do is, I'm going to hand this camera to Erin - say 'hi', Erin.'
Erin smiled while her husband filmed her feeding chicken legs to Njall the crocodile.
None of his offending was against the reptiles.
Adam is pictured here with his wife Erin. They were married for at least 15 years, but reports say Erin had no knowledge of his crimes
Erin (left) and Adam Britton (right)were co-founders of consultancy company Big Gecko, which sold footage of crocodiles to TV and film directors
Britton's wife Erin, a wildlife ranger who once met Prince Harry and helped him catch a crocodile, has reportedly changed her surname since learning of her husband's crimes
Prince Harry is seen catching a crocodile as he is aided by Britton's wife Erin
Locals told media the pair seemed like quiet but passionate defenders of animals.
But Britton was hiding his 'sadistic sexual interest' in them from everyone including his own wife, court documents say.
It is reported that Erin was unaware of her husband's crime and has since dropped her last name.
What are Britton's crimes?
In 2014, Britton began sexually abusing his own pet Swiss Shepherds - Ursa and Bolt.
He constructed a secret 'torture room' using a shipping container on his rural property in McMinns Lagoon near Darwin.
Britton also scoured the internet for dogs he could abuse and kill at his home.
He often found canines using online marketplace Gumtree Australia where unsuspecting owners with travel or work commitments gave their pets away using 'free to good home' adverts.
The zoologist built a rapport with the owners he took the pets from, sending them updates filled with 'false narratives' and old photos.
The married zoologist sexually abused his own Swiss Shepherd dogs, Ursa and Bolt for almost a decade
Britton not only tortured and sexually abused his own pets Ursa and Bolt (pictured together), who he created an Instagram page for, but also dogs from pet owners he had lured into his trap through the online marketplace platform Gumtree Australia
In 2016, Britton uploaded a photo of one of his dogs, Bolt, as a puppy (pictured)
One of Adam Britton's dogs pictured on his property outside Darwin
'My own dogs are family and I have limits,' he explained in a Telegram chat entered into evidence.
'I only badly mistreat other dogs... I have no emotional bond to them, they are toys pure and simple. And [there are] plenty more where they came from.'
Britton extensively filmed his violent offending in the so-called 'torture room' which was fitted with recording equipment.
He shared videos online under pseudonyms andhanded out 'how to' advice in an attempt to encourage others to commit similar offences and get rid of the evidence.
With a sprawling property on the outskirts of Darwin, Britton said he disposed of the dogs' remains by feeding their bodies to animals - including the eight crocodiles on his land.
The horrific animal abuse continued until Britton's arrest in April 2022.
He was only caught when a video of his vile acts, which he had shared online, was provided to Australia's Northern Territory animal welfare authorities.
The clip showed the torture of eight dogs - all except one were puppies.
But an anonymous internet user noticed the female dog in the video was wearing an orange City of Darwin leash with the slogan, 'great pets start with you'.
That tip-off enabled investigators to track down where the dog was adopted from - and by whom.
Britton's sprawling rural property was put up for sale but protesters spray painted 'Dog Killer' on the walls
Britton filmed his offending in his so-called 'torture room' (pictured) and shared videos online under pseudonyms
Within weeks, officers stormed Britton's property and arrested him. He has been remanded in custody since.
Police officers seized recording devices, animal remains and a laptop on which they located 15 files containing child abuse material.
Today Britton was sentenced to ten years in jailand five months with a non-parole period of six years, backdated to his April 2022 arrest.
He stood in the dock wearing a black suit with grey shirt and did not visibly react to Justice Grant's sentencing remarks.
The once-respected academic was also banned from owning or having mammal-type animals on his property for the rest of his life.
Britton's sentence was met with outrage by animal advocates.
Emma Hurst, an MP for the Animal Justice Party in NSW, slammed the sentence as 'pathetically weak'.
Animal advocates demonstrate ahead of Britton's sentencing at the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in Darwin
'These were horrific acts of animal cruelty,' Ms Hurst said.
'There is a well-researched link between violence towards animals and violence towards people.
'This man is a danger to other animals and the community. I am relieved to hear his sentence includes time behind bars - that's where a man like this belongs – but it is not long enough.'
