London man jailed for three years over monkey torture network
Bartosz Poklek, 30, from south-east London, has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison for leading an international online network dedicated to torturing and killing monkeys for entertainment and profit. The ringleader distributed thousands of graphic abuse videos sold for up to $500 each, wrote scripts directing how animals should be killed, and ran chat groups where subscribers paid to "adopt" monkeys and direct their torture. The judge presiding over the case said the statutory maximum penalty for animal cruelty (currently five years) is inadequate and should be reconsidered by Parliament.
Poklek will be released after serving only one-third of his sentence. The court heard evidence of horrific abuse involving macaque monkeys in south-east Asia, including graphic videos showing monkeys being tortured with alcohol, fire, and zip ties, or mutilated with scissors whilst alive. Some victims were dressed as babies before being violently attacked, raising concerns the animals are being used as "proxies" for those seeking abuse material. Network members were recruited through mainstream social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook and TikTok before being moved to more private platforms like Discord and Telegram.
- Man ran online monkey torture network and will serve only 1/3 of sentence.
- Judge says animal cruelty penalties too weak for such horrific crimes.
- Abuse videos sold online; subscribers paid to direct torture of animals.
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An international online network operated to film and distribute videos of monkeys being tortured for profit. Thousands of graphic videos showed monkeys in south-east Asia subjected to torture with alcohol, fire, zip ties and scissors, sold to paying subscribers for up to $500 each.
Members were recruited through mainstream social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook and TikTok before being moved to more private platforms like Discord and Telegram. Paying subscribers could "adopt" individual monkeys and direct exactly how they should be abused and killed, with network organisers writing detailed scripts for the abuse to be filmed.
The network illustrated how animal exploitation can operate at industrial scale through mainstream social media and encrypted messaging services. There were concerns that some monkeys may have been used as "proxies" for abuse material sought by subscribers, raising questions about whether current animal protection laws adequately address such systematic exploitation.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Monkey torturer who ran online ‘cult’ that dressed animals as babies and fed them into blenders is jailed for less than four years – and will be out after serving just one-third of that”.