Boy, 17, had sex with girl, 13, at sleepover

A 13-year-old girl at a sleepover to watch The X Factor woke to find a 17-year-old boy who lived in the house lying on top of her and having sexual intercourse with her.

Daniel Buckley of Ellenville, Kilbrennan, Crookstown, Co Cork, now aged 20, was given a two-year jail sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday with the final 18 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to a charge of defilement of a child under the age of 15 by having sexual intercourse with her in December 2011.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said: “The age difference in years is not great but you were in fact assaulting a girl who was no more than a child. It was a very complete assault. It had a very detrimental effect on her. She does not want to be defined by the assault. It is undoubtedly an appalling event in her life.”

The victim said: “My life changed after that night. I felt I could not face anyone. I found it difficult to go back to school. I had panic attacks. I felt very different to everyone else like I was the odd one out.”

As well as the jail term and the suspended sentence Buckley’s name will be on the sex offenders register for seven years.