A TEENAGER has been convicted of having sex with his foster family's pet sheepdog in Eton Wick.

Thomas Fletcher carried out "embarrassing and grotesque" sexual offences against traumatised Rosie at his foster parents' home in Boveney Road.

A court heard how the 19-year-old - a recovering anorexia sufferer - was secretly caught violating the dog by a voice-activated dictaphone which had been planted in the room.

On Friday, a jury of five men and seven woman came to unanimous verdicts that Fletcher, who worked at the Palmers Arms in Dorney, engaged in two acts of bestiality.

The court heard that the defendant broke into a bedroom - where two dogs had been locked away for the own safety - and engaged in sex on the female while Ralph, a retriever cross collie, watched.

Oliver Dunkin, prosecuting, explained how a dictaphone recording and a 100 per cent DNA match between Fletcher and the black and white rescue dog was central to the case.

"This is an unsavoury, embarrassing and grotesque pair of allegations," he said.

The sexual offences were uncovered by Fletcher's foster mother, Tina Sharp, who had suspicions that her beloved pets were being abused.

"Such were her concerns that she did not just lock them in there, she locked them in with a voice-activated dictaphone," said Mr Dunkin.

Mrs Sharp called the police as soon as she found the explicit tape when she returned home from a shopping trip.

During the case the jury was subjected to the harrowing six-minute recording.

Evidence given by veterinary surgeon Miguel Lopes, who examined the abused dog just hours after the bitch's ordeal, confirmed the Mrs Sharp's worst nightmare.

"She (Rosie) was extremely anxious and showed signs of having been abused," said Mr Lopes.

"Extremely dilated pupils, retracting from contact - all signs of anxiousness and general fearing of contact." Fletcher, who currently lives at the YMCA, on Parkside Road, Reading, will be sentenced for his crimes on May 1. He was released on police bail until that date.