Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
As I'm sure you've heard, a Darwin zoologist and Kroc
expert who raped, tortured and killed dozens of dogs and
puppies on his rural property has been sentenced to more
than ten years in jail now.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Adam Britton pleaded guilty to.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
More than sixty charges of best reality, animal cruelty and
possession of child abuse material last year and returned to
the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory yesterday for his sentencing.
The court heard Britain sourced forty two dogs online from Gumtree,
promising owners that they'd go to a good home, but
filmed himself doing unthinkable things in a shipping container he
(00:38):
called his torture room. He then uploaded the videos on
a private messaging service. Britain received a total sentence of
ten years and five months imprisonment with a non parole
period of six years backdated to April twenty twenty two.
He was also banned from buying and having animals at
his property for the rest of his life. Now joining
(01:01):
me on the line is the first elected Member of
Parliament in Australia for animal Protection, Mark Pearson, who's been
closely following the court case Good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Mark, Good morning to you.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Thanks so much for your time this morning. I mean,
first off, what can you tell us or what were
your thoughts following on from the sentencing.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Well, the judge obviously himself has been in emotional shock,
as he's actually stated to the court, and he's often
sent people, the workers, the employees at the court out
of the room so they wouldn't have to listen to
the details. But Chief Justice has been in a difficult position.
I mean, I know there are a lot of people
(01:48):
who believe that the sentencing should have been for longer period,
but the justice is restricted by a statute which in
itself is restricted, and that's the Animal protection legislation. I mean,
the strongest legislation he had to turn his mind to
with the Child Protection Act and the fact that he
had child abuse material with him. But the most egregious
(02:10):
and serious offenses were to all those dogs talking to
and probably many more animals. But the animal protection legislation
Northern Territory is very restricted. So therefore, if you torture
an animal to death, then that is a sentence of
two years, where in other jurisdictions and world's best practice,
(02:34):
you would be looking up to ten years. So the
judge was restricted by the very legislation that he had
to apply. And also I think the judge wanted to
make sure by listening to all of the submissions, to
all of the arguments to see whether he has actually
does he have any remorse at all, where he found
(02:55):
that really he probably is incapable of remorse. So he
had to take into account that he doesn't want this
to be appealed to the full Supreme Court. Mister Britain's
been locked up for two years. The matter has to
be dealt with and the judiciary has to deal with it.
And now it's up to the government of the Northern
Territory with the review of the animal protection legislation in
(03:20):
place at this very moment, and probably in part stimulated
by the horrors that were committed by the psychopath, but
what that has done has been a catalyst to shock
the government to realize that the legislation that is under
their what not properly reflecting the community expectations of animal
protection and must be absolutely reformed and overhauld.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Mark, Honestly, I don't know how.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Look, I can hardly even read what this person has
done to these animals let alone go into reading much
of it in depth.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
It is just horrifying stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
That review of the legislation sounds like it is absolutely needed.
What do you think needs to change in this legislation.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Well, first of all, the Act needs to all of
the penalties need to be increased. So for example, there
is a specific cruelty offense of torturing, and animal torture
means over a long period of time, and obviously the
perpetrator is enjoying or has no regard at all for
the lot the suffering that goes on for a long time,
(04:31):
that is torture. Two years imprisonment maximum for a person
who does that is not what the average person in
the street would say is acceptable. To ten years is
the jurisdiction in Queensland and in New South Wales. But
the other issue which I've tried to point out to
the government up there is that the protection of animals
(04:53):
needs to be removed from the portfolio of agriculture, because
agriculture is a department to government to apartment which is
about looking after in a lot of situations, the companies
and the companies and the farming industry and the large
corporate farming industries that use animals. So it is not
(05:14):
appropriate to have animal protection portfolio in with a department
which is about looking after animal agriculture interests. So it
needs to be moved to an independent office of Animal wealthy,
either under the Premier or a specific minister or a commissioner.
And that independence will then satisfy the community that are
(05:38):
animals deserving and receiving the same treatment as our children
do as the police, you know, the sword and the
shield of the police for our children, for all of
the vulnerable. Now, one very clear thing is that animals
are very vulnerable. And all these walking two dogs were
taken in good faith from their owners and taken to
(06:01):
a torture chamber. And this has shaken the government to
realize we have to do better and make sure that
this sort of behavior is captured earlier. Absolutely, we referred
to that.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Yeah, I said absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
This man is a veterinarian, you know. And one of
the main parts of vetery science now is the growing
technical knowledge about the capacity of animals to suffer, even
emotional suffering, even loss, even Greek you know. So for
a mother female dog to be watching her pups being
tortured to death over two or three days.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
He is monstrous and heartbreaking. It's disgusting veterinarians.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
And also, I mean the fact that this person was
not detected before. I think our institutions, universities, just like
the Catholic Church, turned a blind eye, didn't recognize what
perpetrators will seek an institution to protect their monster conduct
from being detected. I think the government needs to turn
(07:05):
its mind and set an inquiry into how do people
working beside people working with animals, whether it be in
a pound for the RSPCA, whether it be in an
animal research facility, or whether it be the crocodile intensive
farming industry. People should be watching out to see if
there are colleagues that are working with them, no matter
(07:26):
how many letters after their name, is there something wrong
with their nature where they are actually okay about watching
suffering of an animal and that is a flag mark
to animal cruelty, animal abuse and then onto domestic violence.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah, Mark, we are going to have to get ready
to wrap up. But I do want to ask are
greater safeguards needed when it comes to people selling pets,
particularly online? Yes?
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I mean, I mean my view is that you know,
if they're selling animals online. They should be clearly registered
and traceable, but they need to be like gum Tree,
need to be doing a much better vetting system to
whoever is buying these animals that they can absolutely prove
that they are gained to care for the animals properly.
(08:14):
I mean, this guy was very sophisticated, but there needs
to be a protective mechanism where whoever's purchasing the animal
is giving legitimate information back true information that the animal
is animals well being is taken care of now.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
I know that there were a number of animal rights
campaigners at court yesterday as well.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
What was their key message?
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Look, I think it's just like the Justice indicated that
it's an absolute emotional shock to people who care and
love animals so much and understand animals too, as you
just said, to even become cognizant of what this man did.
So I think that it's absolute frustration that here we
have a situation that's developed which clear reflects that all
(09:01):
the government of today and the governments before have do
not have a proper and a proper watch and a
proper a proper wing and shield to protect animals, which
the community expects the government to have in place. So
their frustration is about the judicial system not representing their
concerns about torturing animals and the government that has not
(09:25):
really brought up the standards of animal protection in Northern
Territory to the world class standard it should be.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Mark Pearson, I thank you for your time this morning.
Thank you very much for having a chat with us.
And it does sound as though those those that legislation
does need.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
To be strengthened.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
We do not want to be in a situation where
something like this is happening again.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
It blows my mind for all the wrong reasons.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Yeah, needs a total reform and the government needs to
reflect what the people want out of this crisis which
has occurred in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Mark, thank you, thanks so much for your time today.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Okay, not a problem. Thank you for your interest.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Thanks
As I'm sure you've heard, a Darwin zoologist and Kroc
expert who raped, tortured and killed dozens of dogs and
puppies on his rural property has been sentenced to more
than ten years in jail now.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Adam Britton pleaded guilty to.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
More than sixty charges of best reality, animal cruelty and
possession of child abuse material last year and returned to
the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory yesterday for his sentencing.
The court heard Britain sourced forty two dogs online from Gumtree,
promising owners that they'd go to a good home, but
filmed himself doing unthinkable things in a shipping container he
(00:38):
called his torture room. He then uploaded the videos on
a private messaging service. Britain received a total sentence of
ten years and five months imprisonment with a non parole
period of six years backdated to April twenty twenty two.
He was also banned from buying and having animals at
his property for the rest of his life. Now joining
(01:01):
me on the line is the first elected Member of
Parliament in Australia for animal Protection, Mark Pearson, who's been
closely following the court case Good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Mark, Good morning to you.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Thanks so much for your time this morning. I mean,
first off, what can you tell us or what were
your thoughts following on from the sentencing.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Well, the judge obviously himself has been in emotional shock,
as he's actually stated to the court, and he's often
sent people, the workers, the employees at the court out
of the room so they wouldn't have to listen to
the details. But Chief Justice has been in a difficult position.
I mean, I know there are a lot of people
(01:48):
who believe that the sentencing should have been for longer period,
but the justice is restricted by a statute which in
itself is restricted, and that's the Animal protection legislation. I mean,
the strongest legislation he had to turn his mind to
with the Child Protection Act and the fact that he
had child abuse material with him. But the most egregious
(02:10):
and serious offenses were to all those dogs talking to
and probably many more animals. But the animal protection legislation
Northern Territory is very restricted. So therefore, if you torture
an animal to death, then that is a sentence of
two years, where in other jurisdictions and world's best practice,
(02:34):
you would be looking up to ten years. So the
judge was restricted by the very legislation that he had
to apply. And also I think the judge wanted to
make sure by listening to all of the submissions, to
all of the arguments to see whether he has actually
does he have any remorse at all, where he found
(02:55):
that really he probably is incapable of remorse. So he
had to take into account that he doesn't want this
to be appealed to the full Supreme Court. Mister Britain's
been locked up for two years. The matter has to
be dealt with and the judiciary has to deal with it.
And now it's up to the government of the Northern
Territory with the review of the animal protection legislation in
(03:20):
place at this very moment, and probably in part stimulated
by the horrors that were committed by the psychopath, but
what that has done has been a catalyst to shock
the government to realize that the legislation that is under
their what not properly reflecting the community expectations of animal
protection and must be absolutely reformed and overhauld.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Mark, Honestly, I don't know how.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Look, I can hardly even read what this person has
done to these animals let alone go into reading much
of it in depth.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
It is just horrifying stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
That review of the legislation sounds like it is absolutely needed.
What do you think needs to change in this legislation.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Well, first of all, the Act needs to all of
the penalties need to be increased. So for example, there
is a specific cruelty offense of torturing, and animal torture
means over a long period of time, and obviously the
perpetrator is enjoying or has no regard at all for
the lot the suffering that goes on for a long time,
(04:31):
that is torture. Two years imprisonment maximum for a person
who does that is not what the average person in
the street would say is acceptable. To ten years is
the jurisdiction in Queensland and in New South Wales. But
the other issue which I've tried to point out to
the government up there is that the protection of animals
(04:53):
needs to be removed from the portfolio of agriculture, because
agriculture is a department to government to apartment which is
about looking after in a lot of situations, the companies
and the companies and the farming industry and the large
corporate farming industries that use animals. So it is not
(05:14):
appropriate to have animal protection portfolio in with a department
which is about looking after animal agriculture interests. So it
needs to be moved to an independent office of Animal wealthy,
either under the Premier or a specific minister or a commissioner.
And that independence will then satisfy the community that are
(05:38):
animals deserving and receiving the same treatment as our children
do as the police, you know, the sword and the
shield of the police for our children, for all of
the vulnerable. Now, one very clear thing is that animals
are very vulnerable. And all these walking two dogs were
taken in good faith from their owners and taken to
(06:01):
a torture chamber. And this has shaken the government to
realize we have to do better and make sure that
this sort of behavior is captured earlier. Absolutely, we referred
to that.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Yeah, I said absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
This man is a veterinarian, you know. And one of
the main parts of vetery science now is the growing
technical knowledge about the capacity of animals to suffer, even
emotional suffering, even loss, even Greek you know. So for
a mother female dog to be watching her pups being
tortured to death over two or three days.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
He is monstrous and heartbreaking. It's disgusting veterinarians.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
And also, I mean the fact that this person was
not detected before. I think our institutions, universities, just like
the Catholic Church, turned a blind eye, didn't recognize what
perpetrators will seek an institution to protect their monster conduct
from being detected. I think the government needs to turn
(07:05):
its mind and set an inquiry into how do people
working beside people working with animals, whether it be in
a pound for the RSPCA, whether it be in an
animal research facility, or whether it be the crocodile intensive
farming industry. People should be watching out to see if
there are colleagues that are working with them, no matter
(07:26):
how many letters after their name, is there something wrong
with their nature where they are actually okay about watching
suffering of an animal and that is a flag mark
to animal cruelty, animal abuse and then onto domestic violence.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah, Mark, we are going to have to get ready
to wrap up. But I do want to ask are
greater safeguards needed when it comes to people selling pets,
particularly online? Yes?
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I mean, I mean my view is that you know,
if they're selling animals online. They should be clearly registered
and traceable, but they need to be like gum Tree,
need to be doing a much better vetting system to
whoever is buying these animals that they can absolutely prove
that they are gained to care for the animals properly.
(08:14):
I mean, this guy was very sophisticated, but there needs
to be a protective mechanism where whoever's purchasing the animal
is giving legitimate information back true information that the animal
is animals well being is taken care of now.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
I know that there were a number of animal rights
campaigners at court yesterday as well.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
What was their key message?
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Look, I think it's just like the Justice indicated that
it's an absolute emotional shock to people who care and
love animals so much and understand animals too, as you
just said, to even become cognizant of what this man did.
So I think that it's absolute frustration that here we
have a situation that's developed which clear reflects that all
(09:01):
the government of today and the governments before have do
not have a proper and a proper watch and a
proper a proper wing and shield to protect animals, which
the community expects the government to have in place. So
their frustration is about the judicial system not representing their
concerns about torturing animals and the government that has not
(09:25):
really brought up the standards of animal protection in Northern
Territory to the world class standard it should be.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Mark Pearson, I thank you for your time this morning.
Thank you very much for having a chat with us.
And it does sound as though those those that legislation
does need.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
To be strengthened.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
We do not want to be in a situation where
something like this is happening again.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
It blows my mind for all the wrong reasons.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Yeah, needs a total reform and the government needs to
reflect what the people want out of this crisis which
has occurred in the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Mark, thank you, thanks so much for your time today.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Okay, not a problem. Thank you for your interest.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Thanks
Popular Podcasts
1. Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
2. Stuff You Missed in History Class
Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.
3. Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.