An Australian teenager has been charged after as many as 20 kangaroos were run over and killed.

New South Wales (NSW) Police were called to reports of multiple marsupials in Tura Beach, 220 miles south of Sydney, on Saturday, after an apparent hour long killing spree.

Officers said up to 20 kangaroos, reportedly including joeys, were killed between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on Saturday.

The 19-year-old man, who has not been named, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with ‘torture, beat etc and (causing) death of animal’, NSW Police said.

The force allege the kangaroos were hit by a utility vehicle – or ‘ute’ – being driven by the man.

Chief Inspector Peter Volf said: “We take incidents such as these very seriously and anyone who engages in activities such as these will face the full brunt of the law.”

Tura beach resident Rob Court told ABC news that when he went outside he could see about four or five kangaroos lying dead, with bones protruding from the skin. He added that police were forced to euthanise several that had been severely injured.

However, some joeys have been rescued.

The alleged perpetrator has been granted conditional bail to appear before Bega Local Court on November 26.

Various other media reports have contradicted the police account, by saying the incident took place on Sunday.

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