Bartosz Poklek, a 30-year-old from Bexley in south-east London, has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison for orchestrating an international network that tortured and killed monkeys for profit and entertainment.
Poklek distributed graphic videos that sold for hundreds of pounds, authored detailed instructions for harming and killing the animals, and operated what prosecutors described as a "large-scale monkey torture ring" spanning from June 2023 to September 2025. He was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court following guilty pleas to running the network, publishing obscene videos for financial gain, possessing indecent images of children, and possessing ketamine.
According to local reporting, Poklek operated under the online alias "BP," managed a chat group called "BP empire," and repeatedly requested that monkeys be killed with hammers. The videos he distributed commanded prices of up to $500 each, and the network recruited participants from mainstream platforms including YouTube, Facebook and TikTok before transitioning them to encrypted messaging services Discord and Telegram.
Judge Christopher Grout delivered a scathing assessment from the bench, stating:
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.The judge continued:
There is a vile underground community who have a hatred of monkeys, particularly baby monkeys, and take pleasure in seeing such monkeys being tortured and killed.
How was Poklek caught?
Poklek's operation unravelled when he attempted to obtain court documents related to a monkey torture case in the United States. According to The Sun, he was arrested during a coordinated UK-US raid at 3am on 16 September 2025. Forensic specialists recovered approximately two terabytes of material from four hard drives and multiple mobile phones during the operation.
The investigation was conducted by the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the Metropolitan Police, West Mercia Police, and officials from the US Homeland Security Investigations and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, reflecting the cross-border nature of the criminal enterprise.
What did the judge say about sentencing?
Judge Grout indicated that Poklek would be eligible for release after serving approximately one-third of his sentence under the Sentencing Act 2026. However, the judge expressed strong criticism of current legal frameworks, stating:
If ever there was a case that demonstrates that the statutory maximum for animal cruelty is too low, this is it.He called for Parliament to increase the maximum sentence for animal abuse offences, which currently stands at five years.
What broader network was involved?
Poklek's conviction is part of a wider crackdown on monkey torture networks operating internationally. According to reporting, the US network leader Mike McCartney received a sentence of three years and four months in November 2024, while UK participant Natalie Herron was sentenced to two years and three months in June 2025.
Intelligence about these networks first reached UK authorities through the National Crime Agency's Asia desk in June 2022. Within three months of receiving that intelligence, police had identified five individuals operating within the United Kingdom.
What was Poklek's response?
Alexia Nicol, representing Poklek in court, told the judge that her client "finds it difficult to explain how he became involved in this." No further statement was provided regarding Poklek's personal circumstances or motivation.
Key Facts:
- Poklek operated the network between June 2023 and September 2025, distributing videos that sold for up to $500 each
- He was arrested on 16 September 2025 during a joint UK-US raid; forensic teams recovered two terabytes of material from his devices
- The investigation involved four police and law enforcement agencies across both countries
- Judge Grout criticised the five-year maximum sentence for animal cruelty as insufficient and called for legislative reform
- Other network participants, including US leader Mike McCartney and UK member Natalie Herron, have already been convicted and imprisoned
