Ringleader of global monkey torture network jailed
Bartosz Poklek has been sentenced to over three years in prison for running an international network that produced and sold videos of monkey torture. The judge highlighted the severity of the abuse and called for stricter sentencing guidelines for animal cruelty.
Why it matters
This case highlights the emergence of dark web communities dedicated to animal abuse and the legal challenges in prosecuting international digital crimes.
Image source, Met Police Image caption, Bartosz Poklek admitted running a "large-scale" monkey torture ring
The ringleader of an international network dedicated to torturing and killing monkeys for entertainment has been jailed.
Bartosz Poklek distributed "horrific" videos which sold for hundreds of pounds and wrote scripts for how the animals should be harmed and killed.
The 30-year-old from Bexley in south-east London had admitted running a "large-scale monkey torture ring" between June 2023 and September 2025. He was sentenced to three years and three months in prison at Woolwich Crown Court.
"It is no exaggeration to say that as a lawyer or as a judge I have never encountered such a horrific case of animal abuse in my life," Judge Christopher Grout told the court.
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