A teenage girl has been accused in court of repeatedly stabbing a goldfish with a craft knife and dismembering it while filming it for her "own gratification".

Shauna Stephenson, 18, of Murton, County Durham, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court following the alleged incident on August 7.

She was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

According to the charge, Stephenson caused unnecessary suffering to the Goldfish "removing it from its water tank, exposing it to the atmosphere without water, and repeatedly stabbing it with a craft knife".

She then allegedly dismembered it while recording her acts on video for her "own gratification."

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The teenager indicated a plea of guilty to the charge and the case was adjourned to Durham Crown Court for sentencing.

The case will heard again on October 23.