A MAN bit off the tails of three puppies minutes after they were born, a court heard.

Barry Stuart Knight, 28, of White Hurworth Farm, Wingate, County Durham, could now be facing a jail term.

He appeared before Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday accused of using his teeth to dock the tails of the litter of lakeland terrier crossbreeds.

The puppies were discovered last August at the farm owned by Knight's parents, after a visit from RSPCA inspectors and police.

Knight pleaded not guilty to four charges relating to the condition of the puppies.

But RSPCA inspector Garry Palmer told the court he had admitted the offences in an interview with him.

Reading from notes made at the time and signed by Knight, Mr Palmer said that when asked who had docked the puppies' tails, Knight replied: "I did." When asked how he had done it, he said: "I bit them off."

And upon being asked when, his response had been: "About three seconds after they popped out."

In court Knight said he had been joking.

He insisted he had taken the puppies in on behalf of a friend.

The court heard he was serving a five-year ban from keeping animals, issued in December 2001 by Derwentside Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates found Knight guilty on all four charges and warned him that he could be facing a custodial sentence.

An application for £2,800 costs was made by John Ellwood, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA.

Knight will appear for sentencing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on June 22.