Full Breakdown
Monkey-Torture Ring Leader Sentenced in the United Kingdom
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Sentencing of Bartosz Poklek
Bartosz Poklek, a 30-year-old Polish national residing in south-east London, was convicted of operating a large-scale monkey-torture network from June 2023 to September 2025. At Woolwich Crown Court he received a custodial term of three years and three months. Under the Sentencing Act 2026, he will be eligible for release after serving roughly one-third of the term.
Background & Context
The investigation uncovered an online “monkey-hate” community that used encrypted platforms such as Discord and Telegram to coordinate the capture, abuse and killing of macaques, primarily in Indonesia. Members paid between £200 and $500 for video content that depicted extreme cruelty, including amputations, burns and the use of alcohol on live animals. Poklek operated under the alias “BP” and managed a chat group known as “BP empire.”
International cooperation was central to the case. British agencies—including the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the Metropolitan Police and West Mercia Police—worked alongside U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to gather evidence and secure the prosecution.
Data & Statistics
- Operational period: June 2023 – September 2025.
- Digital evidence: Over 10,500 files recovered, including nearly 3,000 videos of baby monkeys being tortured.
- Financial transactions: Payments for content ranged from £200 to $500 per video.
- Charges: Publishing obscene videos for gain, possession of indecent images of children, and possession of ketamine.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutor Alex Kettle-Williams (CPS) detailed Poklek’s role as a controlling figure in the “monkey-hate community,” noting his requests for specific methods of killing and the discovery of videos showing baby monkeys being set alight and mutilated.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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
- “Treating vulnerable animals in this way is a horrifying practice that must be rooted out wherever it's found.” — Adeolu Odusote
What’s Next
Because the sentencing framework mandates release after approximately one-third of the term, Poklek is expected to be released on licence within weeks of the judgment. The judge’s remarks have prompted calls for legislative reform of animal-cruelty sentencing limits, with the matter now pending parliamentary consideration.