A British crocodile expert has been jailed for raping, torturing and killing dozens of dogs.

Adam Britton, 53 and born in West Yorkshire, earned a PhD in zoology from Bristol University before emigrating to Australia.

He was sentenced to 10 years and five months with a non-parole period of six years, backdated to his April 2022 arrest.

His offending involved the torture and exploitation of 42 dogs, and the deaths of 39, in a shipping container on his property - which he used to film many of his crimes.

Britton will not be eligible for parole for six years, according to ABC.

Chief Justice Michael Grant described Britton's "grotesque" and "unspeakable" crimes against animals as he sentenced him.

The judge excused court officers during his sentencing remarks, as he warned the gallery that details of the offences could cause a "nervous shock or some other adverse psychological reactions".

"Sadistic sexual interest" in animals

He said: "Although I'm loathe to do so, given the gross depravity and perversity of your actions, it is necessary for the purpose of sentencing you to provide some generally representative detail and description of the offending conduct."

The court previously heard Britton had a "sadistic sexual interest" in animals, and in particular dogs.

As well as torturing his own dogs, he also sourced animals from unsuspecting pet owners in the Darwin region.

"He often built a rapport with the dog owners in negotiating taking custody of their animals, many of whom had to reluctantly give their pets away due to travel or work commitments," prosecutor Marty Aust told the court back in September.

Recommended reading:

Elon Musk reposts fake news headline in latest misinformation incident

What the latest NHS performance figures for England show

Urgent warning to everyone on Three UK mobile network

Emma Hurst, an MP for the Animal Justice Party in New South Wales, slammed the sentence as 'pathetically weak'.

"These were horrific acts of animal cruelty," Ms Hurst said.

"There is a well-researched link between violence towards animals and violence towards people. 

"This man is a danger to other animals and the community. I am relieved to hear his sentence includes time behind bars - that's where a man like this belongs – but it is not long enough."