Teenage boy who raped his four-year-old sister and five-year-old brother sentenced to five years in prison
The 15-year-old was ‘predisposed to drinking and taking drugs’, Liverpool Crown Court heard
Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features
Get the Independent Women email for free
Get the Independent Women email for free
A teenage boy who raped his four-year-old sister and five-year-old brother has been sentenced to almost five years in prison.
The 15-year-old boy, who was aged between 13 and 14 at the time, cannot be named due to his age.
He pleaded guilty ahead of a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, after originally denying the offences.
Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, told the court the abuse came to light after the boy’s sister “made unsolicited comments” about the abuse in front of her mother and older brother, which he denied, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Ms Kenny said: “He protested his innocence. When they got home, he was seen to punch the wall in anger.”
The siblings’ mother contacted social services who called the police.
She told the court she was worried her younger children would one day recall the abuse.
The teenager admitted raping and sexually assaulting his sister as well as two counts of rape against his brother.
Andrew McInnes, defending, said he had “below average intelligence” and “found it difficult to comprehend the implications of what he has done”.
The court heard the teenager had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, “conduct disorder” and “substance abuse disorder”.
Judge Steven Everett said: “In reality this defendant was predisposed to drinking too much alcohol and taking drugs.”
Addressing the teenager, he added: “This was a terrible thing. Despite all your difficulties at 13 or 14, and no doubt all of the difficulties of growing up, in terms of hormones and sexual approach of a teenager, you would have known that what you did was wrong.”
He said an adult found guilty of the same offences would be given 15 years in jail.
The boy cried as he was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison and told to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for life.
“This is I suppose a real classic example of what sadly happens when one person within a family commits offences on other family members. It just tears the family apart,” Judge Everett said.
“It’s highly unlikely in truth that you will ever see your siblings again,” he added.