Law firm worker is first Brit to be jailed over monkey torture clips

by · Mail Online

A law firm worker who shared 'repellent' videos of baby monkeys being horrifically tortured has become the first Brit to be jailed over the vile clips.

Peter Stanley, 42, lost his job, his relationship and finally his freedom after being outed in the latest sickening case following the exposure of a global network of people deriving twisted pleasure from watching the primates being harmed, and was jailed for 20 months today over the 'perverse' clips.

Stanley, who worked for a firm of solicitors, was a member of a grotesque private Facebook group called 'Monkey Sauce' where members were encouraged to view and post their own disturbing videos.

He shared three disgusting clips filmed in South East Asia along with approving comments such as 'a fav of mine this one'.

Unbeknown to him, a volunteer for an animal rights organisation had infiltrated the group and shared their findings with the police.

Peter Stanley, 42, shared 'repellent' videos of baby monkeys being horrifically tortured and has become the first Brit to be jailed over such clips, receiving a 20-month sentence today
The law firm worker lost his job, his relationship and finally his freedom after being outed in the latest sickening case following the exposure of a global network of people deriving twisted pleasure from watching the primates being harmed 
Stanley was a member of a grotesque private Facebook group called 'Monkey Sauce' where members were encouraged to view and post their own disturbing videos

Stanley is the latest person brought to justice after vile torture networks stretching across continents were exposed by the makers of a shocking BBC Eye documentary, The Monkey Haters.

In the US, a teacher, pharmacist and member of the armed forces are among those identified as being involved.

Among those who have been exposed in the UK are Holly LeGresley, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

Earlier this year the 37-year-old - whose grim nickname on a torture site was 'The Immolator' – pleaded guilty to consuming, causing and facilitating the torture of baby monkeys over the internet.

However campaigners have warned that abusers are switching to social media giants like Facebook, with one saying Stanley's imprisonment should be a 'wake-up call' to bosses.In one of the first cases of its kind in this country, Stanley appeared in court yesterday after pleading guilty to three counts of publishing an obscene article.

The videos showed baby macaques – some just weeks old - being horrifically tortured by people believed to be in either Thailand or Indonesia.

Extreme videos posted on the private Facebook page included monkeys being mutilated and tortured with instruments including pliers, a hatchet and a machete.

On one he posted 'Now do as you are told', while on another he commented 'This rat has nailed it', Liverpool Crown Court heard.

In addition he viewed around 70 videos on the group, which was later shut down by Facebook.

'While the internet can be a force for good it can also be used for the worst of humanity,' Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, said.

'This is such a case.'

Stanley pleaded guilty to three counts of publishing an Obscene Article and was sentenced to 20 months in prison when he appeared at Liverpool Crown court (pictured) 

Charles Lander, defending, said Stanley had lost his job following his arrest, while his partner of eight years had left him.

He has since been living with his parents who had regarded him as 'a gentle giant' and 'couldn't believe they are sitting in crown court,' Mr Lander said.

Jailing Stanley, of Dovecot, Liverpool, Judge Ian Harris said: 'These offences are utterly repellent and have no place in a civilised society.'

Afterwards Thomas Quirk, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'The videos that Peter Stanley posted on to his page on the Facebook site are truly horrific.

'Why anyone could possibly want to be involved in this sort of thing is impossible to understand.

'Peter Stanley was publishing videos of animals being brutally injured apparently for pleasure.'

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His 20-month jail sentence was welcomed by Sarah Kite, co-founder of UK-based Action for Primates, who alerted the police about Stanley.

'Individuals, such as Peter Stanley, involved in distributing obscene content depicting the sadistic torture and killing of baby monkeys need to know that there are legal consequences to their perverted behaviour,' she said.

'We hope this prosecution and punishment will act as an important deterrent to others.

'This prosecution should also be a wake-up call to Meta and other social media companies that continue to allow this violent, graphic content to be posted on their platforms.'

Last month Meta – which owns Facebook – told the Mail: 'We do not allow animal cruelty on our platforms, and have removed the content brought to our attention for violating our community standards.

'We also encourage users to report this content to us using the tools on our platforms, so that our teams can investigate and take action.'