Worcestershire woman pleads guilty over monkey torture videos
7 May 2024, 14:14 | Updated: 7 May 2024, 17:49
A woman has admitted uploading images and videos of monkeys being tortured to online chat groups.
Holly LeGresley was told "all options" will be available at her sentencing hearing after she pleaded guilty to charges of publishing obscene articles and intentionally encouraging animal cruelty.
The 37-year-old was charged following an investigation by the BBC into the torture of monkeys overseas.
She uploaded 22 images and 132 videos of monkeys being tortured to the online groups, Worcester Magistrates' Court heard.
The court was told the case against LeGresley, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, should be transferred to crown court because magistrates' powers of punishment were insufficient.
Prosecutor Angla Hallan said the case fell into the category of "sadism and high harm".
A second defendant, Adriana Orme, 55, of Ryall, Worcestershire, did not indicate any plea to similar charges.
The court was told the two defendants had "not carried out monkey torture themselves".
Ms Hallan said the women had been charged after being identified as having been part of online chat groups.
Orme is alleged to have published an obscene article by uploading one image and 26 videos of monkey torture between 14 April and 16 June 2022.
She is also accused of encouraging or assisting the commission of unnecessary suffering by making a £10 payment to a PayPal account on 26 April 2022.
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LeGresley admitted uploading images of monkey torture between 25 March and 8 May 2022, and made a payment of £17.24 to a PayPal account to encourage cruelty on 25 April of the same year.
The case against Orme was transferred to the crown court, where she was ordered to appear on 5 June.
LeGresley will face sentence on 7 June.
Both defendants were granted conditional bail and were ordered not to have unsupervised contact with any animal or child.
(c) Sky News 2024: Worcestershire woman pleads guilty over monkey torture videos
