But the case against an adult, 20-year-old Sean Yaxley, of Braintree in Essex, was dismissed when Jonathan Eales, prosecuting for the RSPCA, offered no evidence against him.

One of the 17-year-olds from Wells has now admitted jointly causing unnecessary suffering by chasing an animal around a field in the early hours and aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring others to inflict physical injuries resulting in the death of a black Hebridean ewe.

He denied causing unnecessary suffering by inflicting the injuries.

A 16-year-old from Burnham Market, who had previously admitted the same two offences and denied inflicting physical injuries, also appeared at yesterday's hearing.

The second 17-year-old from Wells now admits jointly causing unnecessary suffering by chasing it around a field but denies the other two offences.

A 17-year-old from Wisbech and a 17-year-old from Wighton, have denied all three offences, alleged to have been committed on or before March 23 this year.

After Mr Yaxley's case had been dismissed, District Judge Phillip Browning asked people in the public gallery, apart from relatives of the defendants, to leave as it was reconvening as a youth court. About a dozen people left at that point.

The judge adjourned the case to Lynn Youth Court on Tuesday, August 12, at 10am, and granted the five teenagers bail.

The youths cannot be named for legal reasons.