A ROOFER accused of mistreating a boy by breaking wind in his face and sucking his eye has been convicted of two cruelty charges.

Gary McKenzie, from Darlington, was cleared of punching the youngster in the arm and smothering another with a pillow.

The 22-year-old will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court after background reports have been prepared by a probation worker.

During a five-day trial, a jury heard a number of allegations made by the two children about what prosecutors labelled "bullying".

McKenzie admitted the acts - all of which he denied - would be "sick", and said: "It would be odd behaviour. It's awful. It's foul."

He told the jury of eight men and three women during his evidence: "I would never do anything intentionally to hurt a kid."

He said how he first heard about the complaints while he was at work earlier this year, and he got a telephone call from his father.

"He said the police needed to have a word with me," he said. "He told me that I had been accused of assaulting the children.

"I got straight off the roof, straight down the ladders and went straight to the police station for a voluntary interview."

McKenzie was asked what he would think of someone doing such things, and said it would "disgusting and disgraceful".

In cross-examination, prosecutor Paul Abrahams suggested there had been "a pattern of irresponsible cruelty and bullying behaviour".

McKenzie replied from the witness box: "I would not bully a child . . . I would never do that to a kid. Never, ever."

McKenzie admitted that he had once broken wind in front of the boy's face accidentally, which he said the lad found funny.

He disputed further claims that he exposed his bottom and on another occasion his penis, saying: "Would you like one this big?"

The jury deliberated for more than five hours over the course of two days before reaching its verdict this afternoon.

McKenzie, of Beaumont Hill, Darlington, was given bail until his next appearance on November 22.

Judge Tony Briggs told him: "This is a rather unusual case, so reports will be necessary.

"You will be sentenced at a late date. Your bail will be renewed in the interim, but that's not necessarily an indication of sentence. All sentencing options remain open."