A British woman, Holly LeGresley, 37, from Kidderminster, has admitted to her involvement in a global network dedicated to the torture of baby monkeys.
She pleaded guilty at Worcester Magistrates’ Court to charges related to consuming, causing and facilitating the torture of baby monkeys over the internet. She confessed to uploading distressing images and videos depicting the torture of these vulnerable creatures to online chat groups.
The shocking revelations emerged after a year-long investigation conducted by the BBC Eye team, exposing the grim reality of this sadistic underground community.
According to the prosecution, LeGresley demonstrated a disturbing desire to inflict harm on animals, as well as expressing animosity towards pregnant women and children.
She was identified as an active participant in a group on the messaging app Telegram, which specialised in commissioning custom-made torture videos of monkeys in Indonesia.
Under the username “The Immolator”, LeGresley even ran a poll within the group to decide the method of torture to be inflicted upon an infant monkey. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 7th at the crown court.
Kevin Lacks-Kelly, head of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, said, “I’ve been investigating wild crime for 22 years and it sickens me to say that this is unequivocally the worst case I have ever investigated or overseen.”
Another individual, Adriana Orme, of The Beeches in Ryall, near Upton-upon Severn, also appeared in court in connection with the network. Orme is accused of publishing obscene material and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, although she has yet to enter a plea.
The revelations have sparked outrage globally, with at least 20 individuals placed under investigation following the BBC’s exposé. Authorities in the US have already charged three individuals, including the alleged ringleader, Mike Macartney.
Additionally, police in Indonesia have made arrests in connection with the torture of animals, underscoring the international scope of this appalling criminal network.
[Image created via MidJourney]