THREE teenagers and a woman have admitted beating a 14-year-old boy.

The quartet had been due to go on trial at Teesside Crown Court, but changed their pleas at the last-minute, jointly admitting a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm between February 17 and 20.

A joint charge of false imprisonment, which all four had denied, will be allowed to lie on file, said Rod Hunt, prosecuting.

A further charge of taking an indecent photo of the victim, denied by a 15-year-old girl, would also be allowed to lie on file, he said.

Mr Hunt did not formally open the prosecution case, but described how the only adult among those charged, 23-year-old Kelly Embleton, had joined the incident halfway through.

He said: "She permitted the bullying, allowing it to continue, and played a part in it, although not a major part."

Embleton, of Fenston Close, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, along with two girls, aged 15 and 16, and a 15-year-old boy, all of whom cannot be named for legal reasons, were told their case would be adjourned while pre-sentence reports were prepared.

Judge Tony Briggs rejected a defence application that the juveniles involved have their sentence remitted back to the youth court.

The judge bailed all four defendants with the condition that they did not attempt to contact the complainant.

He also warned that all sentencing options would remain open.

They are expected to return to Crown Court on Friday, December 16.