A Broken Hill man was allegedly filmed torturing kangaroos and farm animals in a series of videos too graphic to publish.
A Broken Hill man was allegedly filmed torturing kangaroos and farm animals in a series of videos too graphic to publish.
By Jessica McSweeney
April 2, 2025 — 2.58pm
A Broken Hill man has been hit with multiple animal cruelty charges after he was allegedly filmed beating and running over a kangaroo and kicking farm animals.
In videos posted to disappearing messaging platform Snapchat, which this masthead has deemed too graphic to publish, 21-year-old Jet Johnson is allegedly recorded torturing the distressed animals.
In one video, a young kangaroo is held down and run over by a motorbike.
Another, which appears to be taken on a farm, shows Johnson allegedly boxing a kangaroo, punching the animal multiple times, wrestling it and throwing it to the ground.
A third clip shows Johnson allegedly running up and kicking a lamb with the caption “Jonathon Thurston conversion”.
The series of videos were shared on social media on Sunday. Broken Hill Police became aware and began a joint investigation with the Rural Crime Prevention Team.
On Tuesday afternoon officers searched a home in Broken Hill where Johnson was arrested.
He was issued a court attendance notice for five counts of torture, beat, and cause prolonged suffering to an animal.
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He will appear at Broken Hill Local Court on May 13.
The videos triggered outrage in the rural community when they were shared by Ash McInnes’ business Broken Hill Snake Catchers.
“It is deeply disturbing,” McInnes wrote.
“Fortunately, one of his mates was so disgusted in his actions that the videos were saved and have been shared with the police and RSPCA NSW.”
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It comes after a US influencer received backlash after posting a video of herself allegedly taking a baby wombat away from its mother.
Last month hunting influencer Sam Jones posted a video to her 92,000 followers bragging about catching the wombat, laughing as she pointed out the mother chasing after it.
The prime minister even got involved in the pile on, telling her she should “take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go” as her visa status was put under review.
She left Australia independently.
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Jessica McSweeney is a breaking news reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
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