A vulnerable father of two was tortured to death by his girlfriend and three of her associates who even forced him to eat his own testicle, a court has heard.

Jimmy Prout, 45, was in a relationship with 26-year-old Ann Corbett, but last year there was a fall-out with her and their friends who were like a clan or cult, the jury was told.

Mr Prout was then targeted by Miss Corbett and her friends Myra Wood, 49, Kay Rayworth, 55, and Zahid Zaman, 43, in a protracted torture ordeal that prosecutors said "belongs in the Dark Ages."

His testicle was cut off and he was forced to eat it before his teeth were knocked out with a hammer and chisel, Newcastle Crown Court was told.