Adam Britton, a distinguished British crocodile expert, has been sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison following his conviction for severe animal cruelty and related offenses.

Britton, a zoologist based in Darwin, Australia, was found guilty of 56 counts of bestiality and animal abuse, along with four charges related to the possession and distribution of child abuse material.

The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory (NT) sentenced Britton on Thursday, with additional sanctions including a lifetime ban on owning or acquiring animals. His crimes involved torturing and exploiting 42 dogs, resulting in the deaths of 39 of them. These abuses were documented through films made by Britton himself in a shipping container on his property.

Chief Justice Michael Grant, who delivered the sentencing, condemned Britton’s actions as “grotesque” and “unspeakable,” noting the significant psychological distress the case has caused. Britton will be ineligible for parole for six years. Previously, the court revealed that Britton had a “sadistic sexual interest” in dogs and had manipulated pet owners to obtain animals for his abuse.

Britton’s former professional roles included being a senior researcher at Charles Darwin University and working with BBC and National Geographic, highlighting the stark contrast between his public image and criminal behavior.