A TEENAGER who wanted to become a farmer may face jail after pleading guilty to cruelty to farm animals.

David Lorraines, 19, of St Cuthbert's Walk, Liverton Mines, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, pleaded guilty to four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to sheep and hens and to one charge of failing to dispose of animal carcasses at Guisborough Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Magistrates are awaiting reports before passing sentence but Lorraines was told by Magistrate Peter Sotheran that custody had not been ruled out.

The court was shown a video made by RSPCA Inspector Laura Glover in January last year of allotments where Lorraines kept farm animals.

It showed live animals kept in the same sheds as carcasses and with no food or water.

Natalie Wortley, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said Lorraines told investigators he wanted to become a farmer.

David Scourfield, defending said the situation had arisen because the hens had an infection that Lorraines had tried to treat himself.

Mr Scourfield said Lorraines pleaded guilty because a post-mortem examination showed the birds' gullets were empty.

He said Lorraines thought his sheep had twin lamb disease but had not sought professional advice.

"He had an interest in things agricultural since he left school. He had assisted on a number of farms, helping with the care of livestock, but the care of his own livestock was obviously lacking," said Mr Scarfield.

"The carcasses had not been disposed of because of difficulty in getting people to dispose of them."

The case was adjourned until November 19. The RSPCA said it would be dropping three further charges.