11-year-old boy assaults sister, becomes UK's youngest convicted rapist

After admitting to two counts of rape at an earlier hearing, the boy was given a 12-month intensive referral order

An 11-year-boy is believed to have become Britain’s youngest rapist after admitting to abusing his nine-year-old sister at their home in Plymouth.

District Judge Diane Baker told the court that if the boy had been older, he would have received a prison sentence. “I’ve read all about you. I know a lot about what has happened in your life and your mum’s life in the past and the difficulties you faced and the confusion you face now about how you wish to lead your life. But what you did was so serious and so damaging to your little sister,” she explained to the boy in court.



“She was nine years old - she does not understand about those things and you hurt her so seriously. That will last with her for the whole of her life. If you were older, I’m telling you now you would be serving a sentence of detention - that’s like prison. But you were only 11,” she added.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught after pictures of the two attacks on his sibling were found on his mobile phone. According to the report, the attacks took place at their home in Plymouth, UK earlier this year.



After admitting to two counts of rape at an earlier hearing, the eleven-year-old was given a 12-month intensive referral order, which would require him to work with counsellors and youth workers to change his behaviour at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court in Cornwall. He will also be supervised while using the internet and will have to sign the sex offenders’ register for two years.



The convict was supported in the dock by his mother and foster mother. Justice Baker told him she understood it would be difficult for him not to see his brothers and sisters but it was necessary that he would be separated from them until it was “safe.” Speaking afterwards, the boy's mother told the court she was happy he was getting the support he needed. Now living in Cornwall, he agreed that he would work to make sure it never happened again and was willing "to go back to school to make friends."

 

This article originally appeared on Independent.