Teenage boy becomes one of UK's youngest convicted rapists aged only 14

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A 14-year-old boy has become one of Britain's youngest convicted rapists, after a court found him guilty of sexually assaulting his four-year-old half-sister.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attacked the girl at their family home in Bolton last year. He was 13 at the time of the incident.

A youth court heard that the rape took place when the girl went upstairs to use the toilet while her brother was having a shower.

After the assault, she went downstairs and told her mother what had happened. Her mother immediately called the police.

Prosecutor Andrew Hey read out a statement from the girl's mother, who said she was still shocked by what happened.

"I can't quite believe what has happened," she said. "I cannot stop shaking. My head is spinning with it all. I have no reason to doubt what she has told me. She is not one to tell lies."

Mr Hey told the court: "Her brother was upstairs having a shower and the girl went to use the toilet. After a few minutes their mother shouted up to her to ask what she was doing. She then spoke to her mother about what she and her half-brother had engaged in."

The boy pled guilty to one count of raping a girl under 13 and one count of assaulting a girl under 13.

He was given a 12-month referral order, which means he will work intensively with counsellors and youth workers to change his behaviour.

The youth offender panel, the teenager, his parents, and his sister must all agree a contract and aim to repair the harm caused by the incident.

District Judge Mark Hadfield told the defendant: "You are 14 years old, 13 at the time you committed these very, very serious offences.

"In fairness to you, you co-operated with the police. But I don't really need to tell you that, had you been a little older, you would be facing a more serious sentence. The consequences have been far-reaching. It has had an impact on the family."

He added: "My one hope is the young age of your stepsister will mean it will be forgotten in the distant future. Thankfully your school attendance has improved since the commitment of the offences so I hope this represents an isolated incident.

"A good deal of work has been done on your behalf by social services and the youth offenders' service. They feel that you are a young man who can be dealt with in the community rather than being locked up for many months or even years."

In August last year, an 11-year-boy became the youngest convicted rapist in Britain after he admitted to abusing his nine-year-old sister.

The boy, from Plymouth, was caught after pictures of the attacks were found on his mobile phone.

He was handed a 12-month intensive referral order at Bodmin Magistrates' Court in Cornwall after admitting to two counts of rape.