Man posted 'violent and sadistic' monkey torture videos on Facebook

A Liverpool man was caught posting monkey torture online after a BBC documentary showed the harrowing online global torture networks. The arrest of Peter Stanley, from Knotty Ash, came after the broadcast of a BBC documentary called The Monkey Haters which uncovered how people streamed videos containing the torture of baby monkeys.

The videos were mainly filmed in South East Asia and posted online showing the "disciplining" and tormenting of captive monkeys as well as the people deliberately inflicting pain and fear on them, causing harm and emotional distress. Investigations in the videos posted online led to police identifying people across the UK and criminal investigations being carried out by several police forces.

Appearing in Liverpool Crown Court today, Wednesday, September 25, Peter Stanley, 42, of Dovecot Avenue, pleaded guilty to three counts of publishing an Obscene Article and was sentenced to 20 months in prison. This is the first time this type of prosecution has taken place in the north west.

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Sergeant Dan Goss from Merseyside Police’s Rural, Wildlife and Heritage team said: “The original investigation uncovered the widespread sharing of content which showed the deliberate and gratuitous suffering of baby monkeys for ‘entertainment’, some of which was for monetary gain.

“As part of a similar investigation carried out by West Mercia Police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit we were able identify Stanley as being responsible for the publishing of similar content. The Rural, Wildlife and Heritage Team have then carried out an investigation which led to the arrest and charge of Peter Stanley, who today was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

“We worked closely with our colleagues at the National Wildlife Crime Unit as part of this investigation and will continue to identify and apprehend anyone who chooses to share such online content.”

Chief Inspector Kevin Lacks-Kelly, head of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit said: "The discovery of online global torture networks has required local, national, and international resources including officers and detectives from the UK and special agents from Homeland Security in America to crack the case.

"These crimes are committed behind a veil of secrecy by so called 'communities' and I hope the sentencing shows there is no place to hide for animal abusers.

"I would like to thank Merseyside Police for their swift and robust actions in this case bringing Mr Stanley to justice."

Sarah Kite, co-founder, Action for Primates, said: "We are very grateful to Merseyside Police for taking this action against the posting of monkey torture videos on Facebook. Those individuals involved in distributing graphic and obscene content depicting the violent and sadistic torture and killing of baby monkeys need to know that their behaviour is not only vile, but is also a crime. We sincerely hope this prosecution and punishment will act as an important deterrent to others.

"We also hope that this prosecution will be a wake up call to Meta and other social media companies that continue to allow this highly disturbing and graphic content to be posted on their platforms."