FOUR young men have today (Friday, September 12) admitted sickening animal cruelty charges that led to the death of

a family’s pet rabbit.

Martin John Bell, 20, and Frank Hudson, 19, and two 17-year-olds who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between June 26 and June 29 in Seaham, County Durham.

One of the 17-year-olds also admitted the theft of the pet on June 28 when the four defendants appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court.

Percy, the white lion head rabbit, was stolen from its hutch at the home of the Atkinson family in Dawdon, just days after giving birth to five babies.

An investigation was launched after footage of the young men torturing the rabbit while they sat naked in a bath appeared in an online video.

The rabbit was shaved and thrown from a window before it was killed.

The five baby rabbits subsequently died without their mother to look after them.

Mike Simpson, mitigating for all four defendants, said: “What this involves is a rabbit stolen, introduced to a water environment and subsequently killed.

“It is very clear that this is a matter which is going to go for reports before any bench comes to any conclusion.”

Chairman of the bench Terence Cain and his two fellow magistrates agreed and adjourned case.

Bell, of Parkside Crescent, Parkside, Seaham, and Hudson, of Evesham Road, Eastlea, Seaham, and the two unnamed teenagers, were released on conditional bail until their next appearance.

The older men will be sentenced at Peterlee Magistrates Court on October 3 and the 17-year-olds will be sentenced at a Newton Aycliffe Youth Court on October 6.

An online campaign, Justice for Percy, has been launched calling for those behind the killing to serve the maximum possible time in custody and has been signed more than 5,400 times.

A spokesman said: “Not only do we need the maximum prison sentence imposed in the case, which is six months prison in UK, but we urge the UK parliament to substantially increase the length of time a person, who has abused and or killed an animal, can spend in prison.

“As well as longer prison sentences ensuring justice for abused and or killed animals, it will also help deter other people from carrying out such brutal acts in the future.”