Adam Britton's sentencing was postponed after his lawyer presented to the court a report following 30 hours of psychiatric treatment. - The Straits Times
DARWIN: The sentencing for crocodile expert Adam Britton, who tortured and sexually abused dogs for years, has been rescheduled for August 8.
It was delayed after a report, which his lawyer said showed that Britton felt remorse for his crimes, was submitted in court on July 11, reported various media outlets.
Britton, 52, in September 2023 had pleaded guilty to more than 60 charges for various offences, including bestiality and the possession and transmission of child abuse material.
Many animal rights activists were present at the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in Darwin, Australia on July 11, reported the Australian Broadcasting Company.
But his sentence was not heard, as his lawyer, who asked not to be named after receiving threats for representing Britton, presented a report which he said revealed his client’s remorse.
The report was compiled after Britton received about 30 hours of treatment by a psychologist, added the lawyer.
“Remorse is considered evidence of rehabilitative prospects, as is insight,” Britton’s lawyer told the court, adding that Britton’s guilty plea and cooperative behaviour warranted a reduced sentence.
“This is a human being who has been afflicted by a condition since very early childhood... it is not his fault.”
Judge Michael Grant said the defence had been “derelict and violatory” but acceded to the request, adding that Britton deserved a fair trial and should not be prejudiced.
British media reported that Britton’s representatives said he had been affected by “paraphilia” during the two-year period in which the crimes took place. This is a condition where a person experiences intense sexual fantasies about objects, places or situations which are considered atypical.
As this condition was discussed in court, Britton was reportedly seen wiping away a tear as a security guard handed him tissues.
In a September 2023 hearing, a prosecutor told the court that Britton had been sexually abusing his dogs since 2014.
He was charged for acts committed between November 2020 and April 2022, during which period he obtained 42 dogs from owners using online marketplace Gumtree.
He would then rape the puppies in a “torture room” on his property in Darwin, disseminating videos of his acts online and sharing details of his “kill count”, said the prosecutor.
The room was a shipping container equipped with filming equipment, which he reportedly used to disseminate videos of his acts online and shared details of his “kill count”.
He was arrested in April 2022 when a video of him abusing dogs was sent to an animal welfare group in the Northern Territories and the local police.
Child abuse material, including content involving toddlers, was also found in his possession.
Between 2020 and his arrest two years later, Britton is known to have killed at least 39 dogs, but his offending is understood to date back to 2014, said ABC.
The Mirror said that he faces a life sentence of up to 249 years, with ABC reporting that he could be jailed a maximum of two years for or each of the 39 offences involving torture and death.
Following the July 11 hearing, animal rights activists held signs outside the Supreme Court, calling for justice for Britton’s victims.
Former Australian politician Ross Bohlin said the delay was an “abuse of the judicial process”.
“It would be good to think today brought an end to this psychopathic level of abuse. Unfortunately, the adjournment will only continue the pain.” – The Straits Times/ANN
