Disturbing emails show how a crocodile expert convinced families their dogs were going to a good home - when in reality, he planned to rape, torture and kill them.
Darwin man Adam Britton, 52, pleaded guilty to 60 charges, including the torture, rape, and killing of at least 39 dogs between 2020 and 2022 in the Supreme Court on Monday.
It has now been revealed that Britton canvassed Gumtree in search of people wanting to rehome their animals.
The Daily Mail reports the zoophiliac had alerts enabled on his phone to notify him when a new dog listing was posted so he could quickly email the owners.
He would tell victims he was looking for a companion.
The once-respected zoologist also pleaded guilty to possessing child exploitation material.
On Thursday, Daily Mail revealed a victim was a tan-coloured female dog called Kiki, who belonged to an ill woman who could no longer care for her.
Her family was reportedly “horrified” when hearing of Britton’s abuse, telling the publication that Britton “didn’t seem like that when you met him.”
One family member explained that Kiki was one of three abandoned puppies adopted by her family.
Messages from Britton claimed he had recently lost a loved pet and was looking for a companion.
“I’m very interested to meet your 1.5-year-old girl with a view to giving her a good home,” a message between Britton and the woman read.
“I live on a five-acre block in Humpty Doo, no other dogs too so she’d get the best of both worlds. I haven’t had a dog since my last girl died a few months ago but I miss her and need another companion.
“I can help you out by offering her a great home.”
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At the time, Britton owned two Swiss Shepherd pets, Ursa and Bolt – who he also sexually abused.
The woman replied to Britton’s email and explained that she was forced to give Kiki up because of her failing health.
She added Kiki was afraid of people she didn’t know.
“I’m sorry to hear that your health prevents you from continuing to keep Kiki, that can’t be an easy decision,” Britton responded.
“Perhaps I can make it slightly easier by ensuring she finds a good home with me.
“I’m the kind of person who wants a dog to be close all the time, the place seems empty otherwise.”
Britton would email in the days after taking Kiki, reassuring the woman that the dog was settling in well.
“She will have a good home here,” he added.
According to court documents, Kiki didn’t survive the week, theDaily Mailreports.
Between September 26 and 30, Britton took Kiki and two other dogs to a shipping container turned torture chamber on his property and filmed himself raping and torturing each pet to death.
On October 16, he replied to another message from the previous owner, who asked for an update on Kiki.
“She is doing great,” he wrote.
The woman told Daily Mail that she questioned her decision to give Kiki to someone else.
“I just wish I never gave her up and could have kept her somehow and made it work,” she said.
“It’s absolutely horrible that a human can do this to an animal … he is a sick, twisted man.”
Kiki was one of at least 39 dogs Britton raped and killed.
He operated two Telegram accounts called “monster” and “Cerberus” between 2020 and 2022, which he used to engage with others infatuated with animal cruelty and bestiality.
His undoing, however, was a video uploaded to an abuse website on March 22, 2022, in which an anonymous internet user spotted a dog wearing an orange City of Darwin leash tag.
The footage was sent to the NT Animal Welfare Branch, and then to police.
NT Police and Australian Federal Police raided his McMinns Lagoon home, half an hour out of Darwin, a month after Britton posted the video online.
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During a raid of his home last year, the police seized computers, mobile phones, cameras, external hard drives, tools, and weapons.
TheDaily Mailreports that severed dog limbs in a freezer and a decomposing puppy in a pond were found on the property, and a severed dog head was found on a neighbouring property.
He has been on remand in custody since his arrest and will appear in court again for sentencing on December 13.
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