Bexley man jailed for three years for leading monkey torture network

Bartosz Poklek, 30, from Bexley, has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison for his role in a global network dedicated to the torture and killing of monkeys. Woolwich Crown Court heard that Poklek played a significant part in an international community that commissioned, shared, and sold videos depicting extreme animal cruelty.

Online Operations and Abuse

Prosecutors stated that Poklek managed online chat groups, distributed thousands of images and videos, and authored instructions on how to abuse and kill monkeys. Some of the footage was sold for as much as $500, equivalent to £370. Poklek also directed the creation and distribution of 'abuse on demand' content, where users could commission specific acts of cruelty. The network's activities involved sustained and organised cruelty towards monkeys, with some animals dressed as babies before being attacked. Investigators raised concerns that these animals were being used as proxies for child victims in sadistic abuse material.

The abuse primarily involved macaque monkeys in south-east Asia. The court heard that the network recruited individuals after they showed interest in animal abuse material online, inviting them to more secure platforms. Some users paid to 'adopt' a monkey to direct the torture, and participants could suggest sadistic abuse methods. Prosecutor Alex Kettle-Williams told the court that Poklek, who styled himself as 'BP' online and ran a chat group titled 'BP empire', was a 'controlling figure in what is known as the ‘monkey hate community’'. Evidence uncovered by police indicated Poklek had requested the killing of a stump-tailed monkey, drafted scripts for videos, and made repeated requests for death by hammer. Examples of the abuse presented to the judge included a 39-minute video of a baby monkey being plied with alcohol, set on fire, and bound with zip ties, and another video where a baby monkey was mutilated with scissors while alive.

Investigation and Sentencing

Poklek was apprehended after attempting to obtain court documents from a monkey torture criminal case in the United States. An investigation involving the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the Metropolitan Police, West Mercia Police, and officials from US Homeland Security Investigations and the US Fish and Wildlife Service led to Poklek admitting to running a 'large-scale monkey torture ring' between June 2023 and September 2025. He also pleaded guilty to publishing obscene videos for gain, possession of indecent images of children, and possession of ketamine. Alexia Nicol, representing Poklek, stated he found it difficult to explain his involvement, suggesting he was seeking 'kudos' as an organiser rather than money, and that he had become isolated online, using drugs and slipping into a world where boundaries became unclear.

Judge Christopher Grout described the case as 'truly appalling' and 'despicable'. He commented that he had never encountered such a horrific case of animal abuse in his life. The judge suggested that current penalties for animal abuse, which have a five-year maximum, are too low, stating, 'If ever there was a case that demonstrates that the statutory maximum for animal cruelty is too low, this is it'. Adeolu Odusote of the Crown Prosecution Service noted that Poklek was a 'key cog in a vile trade' and expressed gratitude for the domestic and international partners involved in the prosecution.

Poklek will be eligible for release after serving approximately one-third of his sentence. The judge also urged Parliament to consider toughening penalties for animal abuse.