A British woman who was charged after a horrific monkey torturing network was uncovered previously slammed an action film for portraying ‘gratuitously animal cruelty’ of birds – hitting out at the ‘sick’ scene for going ‘too far’. 

Holly LeGresley, 37, of Kidderminster was charged earlier this month alongside Adriana Orme, 55, of Upton-upon Severn with relation to causing, consuming and facilitating the torture of monkeys.

It came after a year-long investigation by the BBC revealed a global network of monsters who would ‘commission’ people living in Thailand or Indonesia to film monkeys being tortured to later be shared online. 

LeGresley had gone by the name of ‘The Immolator’ online and was said to be a moderator in one of the most prolific groups which would see monkeys sadistically beaten, burned and even doused in acid. 

The gore obsessed woman – who lives with her parents in the Midlands – previously described Hannibal Lecter, a serial killer who eats his victims, and Pennywise, the clown from IT who preys on children, as her ‘horror icons’, MailOnline can reveal. 

In another post, LeGresley claims she ‘utterly obsessed’ with horror writer Clive Barker and the main character in his Hellraiser: Pinhead – a demonic creature that tears its victims apart with hooks. 

Yet sat alongside her rave reviews of scary films are dozens of contradictory images of her cradling and cuddling up to two cockatiels, Chancey and Princess Pea. In other pictures she appears to be holding a tarantula in her hands. 

In another post, LeGresley continues to portray herself as an animal-lover and even a campaigner against animal abuse.  

Holly LeGresley, 37, of Kidderminster was charged earlier this month with relation to causing, consuming and facilitating the torture of monkeys

Bird-enthusiast LeGresley had gone by the name of ‘The Immolator’ online and was said to be a moderator in one of the most prolific groups

 LeGresley here is pictured with one of her two cockatiels, Chancey and Princess Pea

Writing in October 2021, after watching the Suicide Squad spin-off Birds of Prey she wrote: ‘I just watched The Suicide Squad. They burn an aviary full of parrots alive using gasoline and call that entertainment.’

‘That’s sick. You don’t do that s***, even [with] computer graphics because it’s too far. 

‘Shouldn’t be allowed to put such gratuitous animal cruelty in a movie when it doesn’t even really serve the story. Sick twisted people who made this film. Won’t be spending any more of my money on the franchise. What a disappointment.’  

LeGresley is just one of 20 or so people thought to have been investigated over links to the monkey torture network that had members from all over the world, including the US and Australia. 

The charges were made against LeGresley and Orme were made by West Mercia police force were made in relation to causing, consuming and facilitating the torture of monkeys.

Both women have been bailed and will appear at Worcester Magistrates Court on May 7.

It comes after Michael McCartney, 50, was charged in Virginia with conspiracy to create and distribute animal-crushing footage. 

McCartney – dubbed the ‘Torture King’ – was one of three key distributors who was identified in the probe into the cruel monkey torture gangs.

In another post, LeGresley  portrays herself as an animal-lover and even a campaigner against animal abuse

In other pictures she appears to be holding a tarantula in her hands

Michael McCartney, 50, was charged in Virginia with conspiracy to create and distribute animal-crushing footage

He had managed multiple group chats for monkey torture enthusiasts all over the world by using the coded messaging app Telegram. 

Monkey haters would send him commissions, asking for videos of monkey’s being tortured and even set on fire.

 The video suggestions were then sent alongside payments to people in Indonesia who would conduct the abuse which sometimes ended with the killing of the baby long-tailed monkeys. 

McCartney would then distribute the horrendous footage on his social media network. 

The ringleader is based almost 10,000 miles away from the site of the monkey’s torture, living in his home allegedly decorated with Nazi symbols and Confederate flags. 

Toothless from years of heroin addiction, McCartney – who goes by Mike – previously spent two decades with one of America’s most dangerous motorcycle gangs, before going to prison.

It was during the pandemic that he first stumbled upon a monkey torture video and soon enough he was invited onto the Telegram group dubbed Ape’s Cage, set up by its ringleader ‘Mr Ape’.

When approached by the BBC, Mr Ape – whose identity has not been revealed – spoke of his own loneliness leading him to create the forum. 

A year-long investigation by the BBC found that hundreds had been paying Indonesians to torture and kill infant long-tailed macaques on video

The year-long probe found videos were being commissioned of the baby monkeys getting sadistically beaten, attacked with drills and even doused in acid.

Horrific videos show baby monkeys dressed up in human clothing while trapped in cages 

He said it was ‘appealing’ to see ‘something else suffer’ and a way to forget his own pain.

The lurid forum was filled with polls asking members what form of torture they wanted to see next, whether was it a hammer or a screwdriver being used to beat the monkeys.

The ex-con, however, saw it as a monkey making opportunity. After becoming trusted within the grim community he was trusted to trade and sell the sick footage to other members.  He once bragged: ‘I’m building an empire.’ 

Possession of animal torture videos in the US is not illegal but distributing them is and can see someone sent to prison for up to seven years. 

Following the broadcaster’s probe, Homeland Security agents descended on McCartney’s home. His devices were seized and he was questioned but later let go.

He told the BBC Eye investigations team last year: ‘I was the man You want to see monkeys get messed up? I could bring it to you.’

Trying to gain sympathy, McCartney said he had invited animal rights campaigners into the group to expose it.

‘I tried to do the right thing but I profited. It was my mistake,’ he said. 

Since then, McCartney has been accused by prosecutors of gathering funds from his chat groups and distributing videos showing the ‘torture, murder and sexually sadistic mutilation of animals’ specifically of juvenile and adult monkeys. 

He has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges and is facing up to five years in prison. 

While McCartney was undoubtedly a key figure in the underground network, it had a far reach, with people from all over the world said to be watching the videos. 

For years the groups vile habits had gone unpunished but now those caught indulging in the disturbing underground network could face criminal charges – and even jail time.

It has left the some warning their co-conspirators to watch out that the authorities are after them.

On one forum where a user asks ‘is anyone able to send me monkey torture or gore videos’, another advises: ‘I just want to warn you about this. If you are offered videos and are asked to pay money, DON’T.’

‘It’s not illegal to watch them but paying money for them can you get you in serious trouble’, the user added in a post published days ago.