Women jailed for sadistic monkey torture videos

Two women have been jailed for their involvement in a monkey torture ring and for behavior the judge described as “depraved, disgusting and evil”.

Adriana Orme, 56, from Upton upon Severn, and Holly Le Gresley, 37, from Kidderminster, previously admitted being part of the global network.

Worcester Crown Court heard graphic details of the suffering of young macaque monkeys in Indonesia – the footage was sold to people around the world.

Le Gresley, who the judge said played a “leading role”, was sentenced to two years in prison, while Orme was given a 15-month sentence.

Warning: This article contains disturbing and disturbing content

More than 130 videos and 22 images were uploaded by Le Gresley, who, the court heard, was working as an archivist and cataloged and distributed some of the footage.

She also made a payment to a PayPal account to incite cruelty.

Orme, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to publishing an obscene article by uploading a picture and 26 videos about monkey torture, and encouraging or assisting the commission of unnecessary suffering through a payment of £10 to a PayPal account.

The women’s roles were revealed afterwards a BBC investigation into the network This started on YouTube before moving to private groups on the messaging app Telegram.

The online group paid for baby monkeys to be taken away from their mothers and then tortured and killed.

Members even voted on proposed methods.

There were protests outside the courthouse before the hearing and animal rights activists were allowed into the gallery.

Judge James Burbidge KC condemned the women, describing their behavior as “deplorable, despicable and sadistic”.

He said their crimes defied compassion and were “incomprehensible to most of society.”

“You have promoted the physical torture of monkeys by others, you have shared videos and images of such torture and abuse, and you have preserved images and videos for what appears to be your own amusement and amusement,” he said.

He told Le Gresley she had “caused significant pain, torture and death to the monkeys in Indonesia.”

In total, police seized thousands of files from 20 devices belonging to the women in a year-long investigation.

Following the verdict, West Mercia Police described the case as a milestone.

Det Ch Insp Ben Arrowsmith said it was the first time in British legal history that “animal cruelty-related charges have been brought for offenses committed overseas with the perpetrators residing in the UK”.

“The hatred and aberrant fascination shown by the defendants in relation to the cruelty and abuse towards monkeys is incomprehensible,” he said.

“The suffering suffered by the animals is disgusting and sadistic; it’s impossible to understand how anyone can enjoy it.”

Police said both women viewed the videos, expressed joy at the images and regularly exchanged material.

Ch Insp Kevin Lacks-Kelly, head of the national wildlife crime unit, said it was the worst cruelty he had ever seen.

Although this is the latest in a series of high-profile criminal cases, he said the “cross-border investigation” into the global network was still ongoing.

Tom Walkling, representing Le Gresley, said in exoneration that she had lived with knowledge of her behavior, had a long history of depression and anxiety and was “probably diagnosed with autism disorder”.

The court also heard that as a result of the videos, Le Gresley now believed she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Curtis Myrie, representing Orme, said she had several physical illnesses and described her as “a loving mother and grandmother.”

The court also heard how pre-sentence reports noted how well she had looked after her rescue dog, Diesel.

However, the judge disputed several of the defense teams’ claims and rejected their requests for suspended sentences.

He also pointed to Le Gresley’s knowledge of the prison sentence she would face if caught, based on comments police found in a chat.

After the hearing, Sarah Kite from Action for Primates, who gave evidence, said: “The complete lack of empathy shown by both women for the horror and suffering of the monkeys, some of whom were only a few days old, is so disturbing.”

“It is incomprehensible to pay for someone to commit such violence.”

US-based animal rights group Lady Freethinker, which has also helped track the global network, said that “the horror inflicted on innocent baby monkeys by online videos is abhorrent”.