Adam Robert Corden Britton, 51, tortured and sexually exploited more than 42 dogs and also transmitted child abuse material before his arrest in April 2022

A prominent Northern Territory crocodile expert and Charles Darwin University academic has pleaded guilty to a slew of charges of animal cruelty against dogs.

Adam Robert Corden Britton, 51, began his offending in 2014 and tortured and sexually exploited more than 42 dogs until his arrest in April 2022.

Britton stood calmly as he pleaded guilty to the 56 counts in the NT supreme court on Monday.

He also pleaded guilty to four counts of accessing and transmitting child abuse material.