Our thanks to Nick for this piece from Brighton. Extracts:
A mother told how her daughter “was not the same girl” after she was raped at a sleepover by a 13-year-old boy.
She made the comments at a sentencing hearing for the boy, now 14, who raped her 14-year-old daughter at his home.
The boy, who can not be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to a two-year youth rehabilitation order at Brighton Youth Court today…
At the trial in November District Judge Tessa Szagun found the boy guilty of rape and described the girl’s evidence as “compelling, heartfelt and true”…
The judge dismissed the defence’s case, which claimed the girl fabricated the incident in revenge for the boy rejecting an attempt by her to kiss.
In mitigation, defending [J4MB: This should presumably read “defence counsel”] Sarah Tate, said the case was sad for both the victim and defendant.
She said: “I am not making excuses for him, it never should have happened. But it was not something planned and emotions took over a boy in crisis at the time. [J4MB: So the boy’s defence counsel is asserting he was guilty of rape? Am I missing something here?]
“It is a sad case where there are no winners. Two damaged children continue to be damaged.”
She added the boy had since faced “draconian measures” at his school.
The court heard the boy still denies the rape took place and his family plan to appeal the conviction.
