A GROUP of teenagers arrested for cock-fighting could be jailed for their “horrendous”

cruelty to animals.

The three men – two from Darlington and one from Bishop Auckland – were seen pitching two cockerels against each other in a field.

Both birds were severely injured, and one of them had to be put down.

Walter David Welch, 19, and 18-year-olds James Sheldon Welch and Thomas Mounsey admitted arranging an animal fight and causing unnecessary cruelty to animals at Darlington Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The trio changed their pleas to guilty before the case was set to go to trial.

Chairwoman of the bench Greta Foulds adjourned sentencing for pre-sentence reports, and told the defendants: “These are horrific offences – absolutely dreadful.

“At the moment, from what we have heard and what we have seen, custody is the only option for you.”

Witnesses spotted the three youths in a field next to Durham Road, in Bishop Auckland, on the afternoon of March 11, last year.

Kevin Campbell, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: “A local resident was in her kitchen preparing dinner when she saw three young men in the field.

“They appeared to have cockerels under their arms.

She said the birds had wonderful brown and green plumage.

“She said she was horrified to see one man shake the bird violently. She said he was shaking it like you would shake water from a brush.”

When police arrived at the scene, the men tried to run away. The three were arrested after a search involving more officers from Bishop Auckland and the force helicopter.

Cock-fighting paraphernalia, including metal spurs, was found in the men’s van, which was splattered with blood from the fight.

Drugs used by cock-fighters were also found, including testosterone, paracetamol and steroids, which are used to treat the birds’ injuries, to avoid visiting a vet.

Outside court, RSPCA Inspector Nick Jones said the birds suffered broken toes and broken wings. Their spurs had been filed down to make them sharper for fighting.

He said: “This was an extremely cruel incident.”

Mounsey, of Durham Road, Bishop Auckland, and James Welch, of Yarm Road, Darlington, and Walter Welch of Honeypot Lane, Darlington were released on bail.