THREE men could be jailed after botched attempts to kill a dog.

The female lurcher was left with a broken neck and stab wounds from a potato peeler after attempts by Andrew Painter and Kevin Varty to put it down when it fractured a hind leg in a road accident.

Owner Kieran Wynn admitted failing to seek proper veterinary care and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. He was not involved in attempts to kill the lurcher, but magistrates held him culpable because he left the dog in someone else’s care.

The dog, which had to have its leg amputated, is being rehomed.

The court heard that the dog came into Wynn’s care only hours before it was hit by a vehicle after escaping from the garden of a house in Ferryhill, County Durham.

Wynn, 18, then went to work, leaving the dog with the couple he was staying with.

Painter, a friend of the couple, arrived and saw the dog in pain.

After trying to help it, Painter and the others decided it should be put out of its misery.

They called Varty, 43, who had experience owning animals, to ask for advice.

He and Painter, 32, then tried to break the dog’s neck, but realising it was still alive, drunken Painter then stabbed it with a potato peeler.

Painter admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Varty admitted one count of the same charge.

The dog was found on a grassy area in Ferryhill on March 6 by RSPCA officers after being alerted by members of the public.

Kevin Campbell, for the RSPCA, said vets who treated the dog said it would have been in considerable pain from the accident and the attempts to kill it.

Claire Haigh, for Wynn, of Willow Road, Ferryhill, said he phoned a vet, but was told payment was needed in advance.

Terry Haymer, for Varty, of High Street, Ferryhill, said his client loved dogs and had simply tried to help the animal, which was in considerable pain.

Graham Hunsley, for Painter, of Church Close, Kirk Merrington, said his client’s judgement had been clouded by drink.

Darlington magistrates ordered reports, and warned them that they were considering a jail sentence.

The three will be sentenced on August 1.