One of a gang of teenagers who beat a piglet to death has been ordered to work on the south Wiltshire farm where the attack happened.

A 16-year-old from Tisbury, who cannot be named for legal reasons, must complete 20 hours' work for the farmer who owned the piglet as part of an action plan prepared by the youth offending team.

Salisbury Youth Court heard that the teenagers let a female piglet out of her pen, chased it around a field and repeatedly struck it on the head with rocks, a metal bar and a pointed wooden stake.

The 16-year-old admitted taking part in the incident, which took place in Tisbury on April 9. Malcolm Baker, RSPCA prosecutor, said: "The pig was seriously beaten around the head and in his report the vet confirmed that it would have suffered considerable terror and torture."

On behalf of the 16-year-old, defence solicitor Stephen Lucking said: "He only joined in late on and his action was only to put the pig out of its misery. At the end of the day it was just a pig."

Chairman of the youth panel Nigel Spinney said it had been a prolonged attack against a defenceless victim.

Three other youths have been charged with the attack. Two have admitted their part in the incident, the other has denied taking part in the attack and his case has been adjourned until December 11.