Teenager who spanked neighbour's child loses appeal against conviction

The sexual assault case had heard that the then six-year-old boy was left “traumatised, vulnerable and intimidated” after the incident

President of the three-judge Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, today dismissed the two grounds for appeal. File photo

A teenager who sexually assaulted a neighbouring child by spanking him has lost an appeal against his conviction.

The now 16-year-old boy, who can't be identified because of his age, was found guilty by a jury in December 2020 of one count of sexually assaulting the then six-year-old child in April 2019. The boy's lawyers appealed his conviction on the grounds that there was a delay in taking his case to trial.