Teenager raped young boy, 5

A 16-year-old kidnapped and raped a five-year-old boy just days after avoiding custody for the rape of another child.

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted several offences including rape and child abduction at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, yesterday.

The attack in Hattersley on July 4 happened eight days after he was given a community order for the rape of a seven-year-old boy in Tameside in June, 2008.

The teenager was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection and will serve a minimum of three years and four months at a young offenders’ institute.

The community order, given by Judge Adrian Smith, had been challenged by the Crown Prosecution Service and was revoked. Judge Peter Lakin re-sentenced him to three years and four months to run concurrently.

Judge Smith is believed to have considered the victim’s family, who forgave the youth because of their Christian beliefs.

The offender lured the five-year-old, who was playing close to his home, to his house on the pretext of looking for a lost football.

The victim’s parents thought the boy, now six, was missing and he was only found after he emerged from his attacker's house with a light sabre toy given as a reward for keeping quiet.

Det-Con Terry Farrell said: “We have a 16-year-old boy who has acted like a sexual predator, deliberately luring an innocent young boy into his home where he raped him. It is an absolutely harrowing and disturbing case and is heartbreaking for his family.

“The judge described the offender as a devious, dangerous and manipulative young man. Rape is rape and whether you are 16 or 60, it is one of the most horrific crimes anyone can commit. For this to happen to a five-year-old boy is beyond comprehension.”

The victim's father said: “This has been a traumatic ordeal for my whole family, and particularly for my six-year-old son who has had to go through what no one, let alone a young innocent boy, should ever have to go through.

“It has been a harrowing time but I'm glad it is finally over and we can now draw a line under everything and move on with our lives.”

He urged other rape victims not to suffer in silence and to tell police. He thanked the police and St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre for their support.