Teen shown leniency is jailed for rape

A TEENAGER who raped a five-year-old boy days after being spared custody for a sex assault on another youngster, was locked up for almost three years yesterday.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attacked the child just eight days after escaping a custodial sentence for the rape of a seven-year-old boy, Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, heard.

Judge Smith heard the first victim’s family were committed Christians, had forgiven the boy and called for a “corrective” rather than punitive sentence.

But the original sentence handed down by Judge Adrian Smith prompted a legal challenge that it was unduly lenient.

Days later the teenager, described by police as acting like a “sexual predator”, carried out the second attack.

And it emerged yesterday the defendant had already been through the courts accused of sex offences against another youngster.

In 2006 the defendant, then aged just 13, had carried out a sex attack on a boy of six. He was acquitted of the offence in 2007 — but later admitted he had been responsible, the court heard.

Yesterday he was branded a danger to the public and jailed indefinitely, with Judge Peter Lakin ordering he must serve a minimum of two years, 359 days before he can be considered for parole and released only when he is no longer considered a danger to the public.

Passing sentence, Judge Lakin said: “The offences you have committed are deeply disturbing and very serious.

“You are a devious and manipulative young man with an unhealthy and completely unacceptable sexual interest in young boys.”

The youngster was sentenced to three years four months but with time already spent in custody taken into consideration he will serve two years, 359 days, before it is decided whether he is safe enough to release back into the community.