Latest news with #monkeytorture
The Sun
15-06-2025
- The Sun
Deviant Scots mum at heart of monkey torture ring ‘watched beheading videos' before getting involved in sick plot
A SICKO mum who helped arrange the torture killings of baby monkeys got hooked on 'gore' by watching videos of beheadings, we can reveal. Natalie Herron, 39, told fellow sadists how she binged on horrendous online clips of humans being decapitated, boasting: 'It goes beyond a hobby. It's almost a way of life.' 3 3 3 Her depraved hobby emerged after she was j ailed for helping to lead a worldwide monkey abuse ring, which paid thugs to rip tiny macaques from their mothers in Indonesia then butcher them on camera. The terrified animals were killed in agonising ways dreamt up by the group, including by crucifixtion, with the videos shared for kicks. Herron, of Airdrie, opened up to lowlife pals on encrypted messaging apps where she traded her stash of over 1,000 vile images and videos. She told other fiends: 'It's been a pleasure getting to know you all. 'I've built up a few amazing online relationships. 'Our private mails would have the normies turning in their graves. 'Before I got into monkey hate I always had a fascination for gore. Used to watch beheadings. 'Makes life much brighter knowing I'm not the only one who has monkey serial killer thoughts. 'Watching monkey torture always lulls me to sleep in the best way.' It is feared Herron has amassed an army of twisted followers, with thousands of others thought to be hooked on animal kill films. Her harrowing videos also saw young primates being hacked with machetes, dipped in boiling oil and having their skulls drilled. Katie Price slammed for 'putting puppy in danger' as fans warn 'you need to keep your pets safe!' Mother-of-two Herron hid her evil obsession by pretending to be an animal lover. She swapped pictures of pets, describing another brute's Staffie as 'a looker'. Herron wrote: 'I had a Staffy bef- ore I got my little furrball I have now. Rayne. 'She was the most tender, loving and loyal dog ever. They don't call them 'nanny dogs' for nothing. They're amazing with kids.' The Scottish Sun yesterday unmasked Herron by printing the first picture of her since she was caged for two years and three months at Airdrie Sheriff Court last Tuesday. As her group's administrator, she ran polls for monsters to vote on torture methods — including glueing the baby monkeys' hands and feet together before pepper spraying them, or force-feeding them until they died. She took warped delight when one bewildered primate was stuffed in a jar filled with biting fire ants, telling followers: 'We've got our ants in jars. Phenomenal!' We can reveal she also boasted how she did not 'give a s**t who knows I hate monkeys' and of her joy at seeing them 'blitzed in a blender and scalped'. And she bragged to pals about seeing one be crushed and suffocated. She said gleefully: 'Haven't you seen the video where the cellotape it into a ball? It's awesome.' And she added: 'People go around as if it's some ardinal sin, like we're committing the worst atrocities by watching monkey abuse vids.' Herron hid her debauched online life telling cronies family and friends would 'never look at me the same again'. She said the sadistic circle 'goes beyond a hobby — it's almost a way of life now lol.' But she was finally snared when US cops took down group ringleader Michael Macartney, 51, whose alias was 'The Torture King'. Scots cops found 1,084 images and videos of monkey torture on her iPhone. She admitted possessing and distributing obscene material between October 2021 and September 2022. But last night campaigners warned her ties to the torture network could have been over a longer period. Sarah Kite, of advocacy group Action for Primates, said: 'Natalie Herron has been involved in depraved and vile activity.' 'There are thousands of people involved in looking at this type of content, whether it be in any of the private Telegram groups or on Facebook. 'I would be concerned about them having contact with animals or children, seeing what they're capable of and what the sort of things that they enjoy. 'I think it's highly disturbing. I hope more people will be caught. 'I'm sure there'll be more both in the US and hopefully in the UK as well.' Nina Jackel, of Lady Freethinker, said: 'The torture and killing of helpless, infant macaques is among the most disturbing abuse cases I have seen in more than a decade.' Detective Inspector Mark Harrison, of the National Wildlife Crime Unit, warned: 'There are proven links between those involved in animal cruelty and violence towards people.' And the Scottish SPCA said: 'These videos are part of a broader culture of cruelty that must be tackled."
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Pictured: Mother-of-two who helped run global monkey torture network as more sickening details of her crimes emerge
A sadistic Scottish mother who helped run a barbaric global monkey torture ring can today be unmasked as horrifying new details of her crimes emerge. Natalie Herron, 39, a mother-of-two from Airdrie, Lanarkshire, was jailed this week for more than two years for her role in a twisted network that paid for the grotesque torture and execution of baby monkeys. Herron – described by neighbours as a 'marked woman' – acted as an online administrator for the depraved group, which orchestrated unspeakable cruelty against defenceless macaques and even allowed members to vote on how the creatures should die. She shared hundreds of harrowing videos and images, including scenes where monkeys were crucified, dipped in boiling oil, and attacked with machetes. One sickening clip showed a terrified monkey being bound tightly with cellotape – footage Herron chillingly described as 'awesome'. She was sentenced to 27 months in prison after admitting to hoarding and distributing obscene material showing animals being tortured, and for sending threatening and abusive messages promoting the cruelty online. Airdrie locals have been left horrified by the revelations. One source told The Scottish Sun: 'Natalie can never show her face here again. It won't end well for her if she does. Sick and twisted messages from a sadistic global monkey torture network asked people to 'be creative' for 'brutal vids' with one saying: 'I wanna see pain, shock, pain, acceptance of fate'. Pictured is some a mock up of some of the messages uncovered by a year-long BBC investigation 'She has always been one for the watching. But nobody could have imagined she could do anything so twisted. It's all that anyone here is talking about. 'She's a marked woman for what she did to those poor babies.' Herron's crimes came to light after a joint investigation by US law enforcement and the UK's National Crime Agency. The probe focused on American ringleader Michael McCartney, 51, known online as 'The Torture King', who led the secretive network that operated across Telegram and WhatsApp. Members of the group paid men in Indonesia to rip long-tailed macaque infants from their mothers and carry out their slow, torturous deaths on camera. When authorities raided Herron's home in 2022, they discovered 1,084 images and videos of monkey torture on her iPhone. Police also found 4,000 vile messages in a WhatsApp group where Herron gleefully discussed torture methods and expressed hatred for the animals. Some of her revolting comments included: 'Oh my God the little b*****d is making my ears bleed,' and 'I am shocked how easily the drill went through the skull, it was like butter.' In another message, she sought footage where 'they will kill the mum and the babies watch.' Natalie Herron, 39, took part in online chat groups which encouraged the torture of macaque monkeys by people based in Indonesia The network, which first surfaced on YouTube before moving to encrypted messaging platforms, was exposed in a BBC investigation. Group members, many based in the West, claimed the monkeys were pests ruining Indonesian land – a claim that served as a twisted justification for their sadistic desires. Despite claiming the payments she made to McCartney were simply to 'help him', Herron's involvement went far beyond passive support. She acted as a key facilitator, helping to run the online group and spread the sickening content. Prosecutors brought charges against her for possessing and distributing obscene material between October 2021 and September 2022, and for causing fear or alarm through her online activities. At Airdrie Sheriff Court, Herron was handed a landmark sentence – the first in Scotland for animal cruelty committed abroad. A year-long investigation by the BBC found that hundreds had been paying Indonesians to torture and kill infant long-tailed macaques on video Her defence solicitor, Nicky Matteo, told the court: 'In all the years I have been practising I have not seen a case like this. It has not been a pleasant experience. 'She has had horrific problems in life and she built up a connection with other group members. 'She was trying to ingratiate herself with other members, it was a false sense of escapism. 'She is no longer the person that was responsible for sending those messages. She recognises the severity of it.' But Sheriff Derek Livingston made clear the gravity of her crimes, saying: 'The fact you not only joined these groups but then helped to facilitate them only helped to increase the animals' suffering.' Animal rights groups have welcomed the sentence but warned that the rise of encrypted messaging platforms is making it easier for such networks to operate undetected.
The Sun
14-06-2025
- The Sun
First picture of sicko Scots mum jailed for helping to run horrific global monkey torture network
A SADISTIC Scots mum jailed for helping to run a horrific global monkey torture network can today be unmasked. Natalie Herron, 39, and fellow sickos paid for thugs to inflict agonising deaths on baby macaques. 2 Neighbours told of their revulsion at learning how the mum, 39, shared sickening videos of tiny monkeys being crucified, dipped in boiling oil and hacked with machetes. We told how the monster, who also ran online votes on the animals' agonising death methods, was jailed for 27 months this week after admitting hoarding and sharing the harrowing footage. But a source in her home town of Airdrie told The Scottish Sun: 'Natalie can never show her face here again. It won't end well for her if she does. 'She has always been one for the watching. But nobody could have imagined she could do anything so twisted. It's all that anyone here is talking about. 'She's a marked woman for what she did to those poor babies.' We can also reveal fresh details of the disgusting messages Herron sent online to other sadists. She spoke with undisguised glee about seeing the defenceless creatures having their faces melted with a blowtorch, being chopped up in a food blender and even having their private parts cut off. The brute also said it was 'awesome' to watch a clip of a terrified macaque being wrapped up into a ball with cellotape. Herron was caught after US cops took down the group's ringleader Michael McCartney, 51 — who called himself 'The Torture King'. They paid for henchmen in Indonesia to steal young long-tailed macaques from their mothers then film their barbaric deaths. Inside monkey torture ring where fiends pay for animals to be put in blenders for sexual kicks Scots cops raided Herron's four-in-a-block flat in 2022 and found a phone with 1,084 pics and videos. Officers also found 4,000 warped WhatsApp messages she sent. In one, she moaned the screams of a dying monkey were 'making my ears bleed'. Another said: 'I am shocked how easily the drill went through the skull, it was like butter.' Herron discussed her preferences with other sickos, saying: 'Trying to find a video where they will kill the mum and the babies watch. 'Torch its whole face off until it's just skull and melting skin haha. 'Or watch them be blitzed in blenders and scalped, d**ks cut off, set alight. If only my family and friends knew they'd never look at me the same again lol.' The fiend also organised a poll on what the group wanted to see next. One suggested option was for a baby monkey to be sealed in a jar filled with biting fire ants. Herron later gleefully told the others: 'We finally got our ants in a jar. Phenomenal!'' Neighbours told of their disgust at the fiend, who they used to see walking a pet dog. At Herron's front door is an ornament of a squashed hedgehog with tyre tracks on its back. One local said: 'Natalie was a weirdo. She wouldn't give you the time of day if she saw you outside. Most just thought she was rude. 'But many are now glad they never got to know her. 'The shame should follow her forever. She's a vile pig.' A nearby shopkeeper claimed Herron's family will be distraught over the shocking revelations. He said: 'Her parents are lovely people. Her dad was a nice guy and her mum worked for the NHS. Natalie was always a pain. But I don't understand what she'd get from all this. Her poor parents will be so ashamed.' Our unmasking of Herron was backed by Sarah Kite, co-founder of Action for Primates. She said: 'Her depravity in paying for and watching the sadistic and gratuitous torture and killing of baby monkeys is horrifying. 'It is in the public interest for people to know who she is.'' Nina Jackel, of animal rights group Lady Freethinker, added: 'Those who participate in these crimes must be held accountable to help deter future offenders.' A BBC probe previously revealed the evil network. Last November Holly Le Gresley, 37, was caged for two years and Adriana Orme, 56, for 15 months in Worcester after they admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals. Macartney was jailed for more than three years last October in Virginia, US.
Sky News
11-06-2025
- Sky News
Natalie Herron: Scottish woman jailed for sharing monkey torture videos
A Scottish woman involved in a global monkey torture ring has been jailed for more than two years in a landmark case. Police Scotland said Natalie Herron, 39, contributed to the "cruel torture and immense suffering of a number of innocent animals". Investigating officers described it as one of the most horrific cases they had dealt with and that the material was like nothing they had seen before. This is the first time someone has been sentenced in Scotland for cruelty that took place abroad. Herron was arrested in September 2022 after the National Crime Agency (NCA) alerted Police Scotland. She was then brought to justice with help from the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). Detective Sergeant Karen Murray said the long and complex investigation was "the first of its kind in the UK". She added: "Through dedicated police work, the investigation team was able to show that Herron was watching and distributing this horrific material and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who worked on it. "This was one of the most disturbing and graphic cases we have worked on, and we hope this sentence shows that, even though the cruelty took place abroad, these types of crimes will not be tolerated and we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold people accountable." Detective Inspector Mark Harrison, from the NWCU, said the investigation was "truly shocking and unsettling". He added: "The people involved are not just motivated by money, this is also about getting some sort of gratification from watching animals being tortured and then sharing those images with others. "It has been well documented in the media recently what impacts these sorts of online images can have on people, especially young people, and there are proven links between those involved in animal cruelty and violence towards people, so we take it very seriously." Herron appeared before Airdrie Sheriff Court in North Lanarkshire last month and pleaded guilty to charges of distributing and possessing obscene publications between December 2021 and September 2022. She returned to the dock on Tuesday, where she was jailed for two years and three months. As part of the wider investigation, two women were last year jailed at Worcester Crown Court in England for their part in the network. A 37-year-old woman was sentenced to two years behind bars, while a 55-year-old woman was jailed for one year and three months. Faye Cook, procurator fiscal for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said: "The videos and images that Natalie Herron bought and shared online are horrendous. "These animals were shown to be suffering extreme pain. This has been a distressing case for the prosecution team and police, but we have held Natalie Herron accountable."
Al Bawaba
11-06-2025
- Al Bawaba
Scottish mother jailed after sharing 'monkey torture' videos
ALBAWABA - A Scottish mother from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, recently sparked outrage on social media after she was arrested for being involved in a global monkey torture network. According to the BBC, 39-year-old Natalie Herron, a mother of two, was jailed for two years after authorities discovered that she joined online group chats that backed the torture of monkeys (specifically Macaques) by individuals residing in Indonesia. In June 2023, the BBC exposed the cruel act and revealed that it extended from Indonesia to the United States. Additionally, hundreds of photos and videos were shared by the British news outlet. Airdrie Sheriff Court learned that Herron was a group administrator in the network. Caution: disturbing information below about animal cruelty and torture. (Shutterstock) The monkeys were subjected to several cruel torture methods, including crucifixion, machete attacks, and being dipped in boiling oil. The court also learned about Natalie Herron's connection to Michael Macartney, an American man nicknamed "The Torture King" who was the "ring dealer" behind the twisted operation. Macartney was jailed for three years and four months last year alongside other culprits. On the contrary, before serving jail time, Herron's defendant stated that she had a troubled life and joined the group as a form of escapism, further adding that she's not the same person as before and now recognizes the severity of the issue at hand.
