A schoolboy says he has been living in fear since he was questioned by police over the death of a puppy.

Robert Coates was held in a cell by officers investigating the death of a six-week-old mongrel put to sleep after she was attacked in a South Shields flat.

Detectives initially believed the pup had been attacked by hooligans, who were said to have tossed the tiny animal through the air "like a rag doll".

Since the attack Robert, 11, has been harried by enraged animal lovers who thought he was involved.

The youngster, whose home family home in Nevinson Avenue, Whiteleas, South Shields has been egged and attacked with stones has pleaded to be left alone.

He said: "It's been horrible. I knew I didn't have anything to do with the dog dying, but nobody wanted to listen to me.

"I was held in a police cell for two hours and questioned by the police for another hour, but it was nothing to do with me at all.

"Now people are picking on me when I'm out and even the children at school are telling me never to go back." Police arrested a 31-year-old man on Wednesday, but later released him without charge. They now believe the puppy's injuries were caused at home.

Inspector Simon Charlton of South Shields Police said: "I would like tostress that the children we have interviewed in relation to this matter were in no way involved in the attack on this dog.

"I understand at least one person's home has been wrongly targeted because of this, but I can categorically state that these people had nothing to do with it."