AN alleged paedophile killed three children's pet rabbits and fed them the animals in a stew, a court was told yesterday.

James Mason, 61, told them it was prairie chicken, but afterwards he revealed that they had eaten their pets which had lived in a garden hutch, said Shaun Dodds, prosecuting.

The children's mother, who was out working, said they were devastated when they found out, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Twenty years on, the children complained that Mr Mason had sexually abused them

Mr Mason, of Farm Cottages, Ludworth, County Durham, denies four charges of rape, nine indecent assaults, four charges of indecency with a child and one of serious sexual assault.

The trial continues