Ringleader of global monkey torture cult is jailed for just over a year after judge says animal cruelty laws are TOO WEAK

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026 · last updated 10 October 2026.

Bartosz Poklek, 30, of Bexley, south-east London, was sentenced to three years and three months at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday — but will walk free after serving roughly one-third of that under early release rules. The Polish national ran a network of "zoo sadists" who paid to watch macaque monkeys tortured and killed to order, selling videos for up to £375 each and writing scripts directing how animals should be mutilated and clubbed to death. Judge Christopher Grout said he had "never encountered such a horrific case of animal abuse" and called on Parliament to raise the five-year maximum sentence for animal cruelty.

Before any violent attack took place, the monkeys were dressed in bonnets and nappies — a detail that alarmed police, who suspected the animals served as 'proxy infants' for individuals with a sexual interest in children.

Poklek's computer yielded more than 10,500 files, close to 3,000 of which depicted baby monkeys being tortured; indecent images of children were found on his devices as well.

Poklek first drew the attention of authorities when he attempted to obtain US court records from a monkey torture prosecution, triggering a joint investigation involving US Homeland Security and Fish and Wildlife Services.