Monkey torture network ringleader jailed for three years

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 15:44 · Archive

Bartosz Poklek, 30, was sentenced to three years and three months for distributing videos of monkeys being tortured and killed.

Bartosz Poklek, 30, from Bexley in south-east London, has been jailed for three years and three months for his role running an international network dedicated to torturing and killing monkeys. Poklek distributed 'horrific' cruelty videos which sold for up to 500 dollars each, wrote scripts for how animals should be mutilated and dismembered, and directed the killings, including monkeys being clubbed to death with a hammer. He ran chat groups and distributed thousands of 'abuse on demand' videos and images as part of the 'monkey hate' online community.

Some of the monkeys were dressed as babies as they were violently attacked, sparking concerns that the animals are being used as 'proxies' by people seeking to view sadistic abuse of children. Judge Christopher Grout sentenced Poklek at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, describing the case as the worst animal abuse he had encountered in his career as a lawyer and judge. The judge said the 'vile underground community' took pleasure in seeing monkeys, particularly babies, being tortured and killed. Poklek will be released after serving approximately a third of his prison sentence. The judge indicated he would pressure Parliament to consider toughening penalties for animal abuse, which currently carry a maximum five-year sentence.

How it is being reported

• Zoo ringleader jailed over monkey torture videosBartosz Poklek was the ringleader of an international network of zoo sadists (Picture: CPS/PA Wire) The ringleader of an international network dedicated to torturing and killing monkeys for entertainment has been jailed for three years and three months. Bartosz Poklek, 30, from Bexley, south-east…Metro · 9 Oct, 16:25
• Mastermind behind ‘despicable’ monkey torture network that shared sadistic videos online jailedBartosz Poklek played a leading role in the online community, running chat groups and distributing thousands of videos and imagesThe Independent · 9 Oct, 15:10
• UK monkey torture ringleader exposed - animals dressed as babies and attackedBartosz Poklek, 30, distributed horrific cruelty videos which sold for up to 500 dollars a time, writing scripts for how the animals should be mutilated, dismembered, and torturedThe Mirror · 9 Oct, 13:11

In this story: Bartosz Poklek · Judge Christopher Grout · Woolwich Crown Court · Bexley · London

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