August, 2024
Australian zoologist sentenced to 10-plus years for
animal torture and sexual abuse
** WARNING: Graphic content **
Earlier this month, Australian zoologist Adam Britton, 53 was sentenced to 10 years and 5 months for torturing at least 39 animals to death. In addition to beating, stabbing, and mutilating those dogs, he defecated and urinated on several of them and masturbated using their internal organs. Britton's conduct was considered so egregious that the judge repeatedly issued warnings to both the jury and others who attended the court proceedings.
Many are confused by the sentence, saying that it's too light given the violent and extensive nature of the offending. But courts and the judges who preside over them are bound by the laws prohibiting behavior such as Britton's.
In Australia, the law in effect at the time of Britton's arrest allowed for only 2 years of incarceration per count charged. In addition, because Britton was being charged for multiple offenses, the totality principle applied. Essentially, the court weighed the overall harm that was committed, the culpability of the offender, other factors that played a part (for example the offfender's remorse), and whether or not the sentence per count could or should be served consecutively or concurrently. If Britton had been ordered to serve consecutive sentences, he would be eligible for up to 78 years in jail, which was deemed excessive compared to nature of the crime.
U.S. State v Federal Law
In the U.S. bestiality is specifically prohibited under state law in all states and U.S. territories with the exception of West Virginia. It is a felony level crime in about half of those states, with penalties ranging from 1-20 years. Animal torture (regardless of sex acts) is felony in all U.S. States.
Federal law specifically prohibits the depiction and act of animal torture which may include sexual acts. The penalty is 7 years and sentences may be served consecutively or concurrently.
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For more information on laws, cases, or published studies, please contact me.
"One of my fetishes is cutting up dog faces ... I just love disfiguring them.
Protestors outside NSW Supreme Court
(ABC News, Roxanne Fitzgerald)
In comparison, one of the people with whom Britton shared animal torture videos was Lucas Vanwoert, 27 who was arrested in Ohio in September 2022 and ordered to serve up to 97 months in federal prison for creating and sharing animal torture videos as well as extreme child pornography.
In multiple videos, Britton stabs, cuts, ejaculates onto, or rubs feces into the wounds of dogs' faces.
