Child who tortured young boys now 'likeable and well-behaved'

The younger of two English brothers who sadistically tortured two young boys is now a “likeable and well-behaved young person”, his barrister said today.

Charles Garside QC told Sheffield Crown Court the 11-year-old’s behaviour had “improved markedly” since the attack in Edlington, South Yorkshire, in April last year.

The barrister was speaking in mitigation before the boy and his 12-year-old brother are sentenced later today.

A judge has spent two days listening to harrowing accounts of how the youngsters, then aged 10 and 11, lured their victims to a secluded spot and subjected them to 90 minutes of violence and sexual humiliation.

The court has heard how the nine-year-old and 11-year-old victims were strangled, hit with bricks, made to eat nettles, stripped and forced to sexually abuse each other.

Outlining details of a pre-sentence report about the younger brother’s behaviour to Mr Justice Keith, Mr Garside said: “In my submission, this is not just manipulation of adults, this is genuine good behaviour, genuine changed behaviour, noticed by people who are involved directly in dealing with disruptive and difficult youngsters.

“He has already begun to improve markedly and not because he is devious and trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes but because he is genuinely changing.”

Mr Garside said the boy had written a letter to the judge expressing his remorse in his own words.