A 16-YEAR-OLD youth, who abducted and tried to rape a child just eight days after walking free from court after being convicted of the rape of another youngster, has been told he will be locked up indefinitely.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was told he must serve a minimum term of almost three years before he has any hope of being freed.

Judge Peter Lakin told him: "You will not be released until it is deemed safe to do so and, given all the circumstances, it is very likely that you will not be released for a very considerable time."

Unusual

Passing sentence at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, the judge said it was a highly unusual step to classify such a young offender as dangerous.

He said: "In your case, I have to say I have absolutely no hesitation in reaching the conclusion that you are indeed a dangerous offender."



"This has completely destroyed our family. It is the worst thing ever...I want to make my son better, make it so it never happened, but I can't."
Father of the victim



The court had been told that the youth, described as troubled and vulnerable, had deliberately lured his innocent young victim to his home earlier this year, where he carried out the sexual assault and tried to rape him.

He had tempted him by promising to give him a Star Wars light-sabre toy if he went with him, then attacked him on the pretext of playing a game.

Judge Lakin told him: "In a planned and calculated way, you cynically took advantage of this young boy.

Innocence

"You took away his innocence and what you did had a devastating effect on both him and his family.

"Quite clearly, you have caused him psychological harm and a custodial sentence is the only appropriate one."

In June, eight days before the attack, the 16-year-old had walked free from court after being sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order for a previous sex attack involving a boy.

The court was told that Judge Adrian Smith, who had sentenced the teenager on that occasion, had done so after being told that the youngster's family - committed Christians - had forgiven him and expressed the hope that the court would adopt a "corrective" rather than a punitive approach to sentencing.

It was revealed, however, that the teenager had already carried out another sex attack on a boy while on bail awaiting sentence.

Distress

Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, told the Minshull Street court that the offences against the youngster had caused great distress to the boy, devastated his parents and caused a great deal of anger and resentment within the local community.

The youngster had to undergo a distressing medical examination, he had regressed emotionally and his education had suffered.

He told the court the boy's mother had been frantic with worry when her son had disappeared from the garden where he had been playing and, ironically, her husband had later thanked the teenager for his help in returning the boy, knowing nothing of what had happened.

The court was told that, after the attack, the child's parents noticed a significant change in his behaviour and he eventually told them of the attack.

Frustration

His father said in a statement: "This has completely destroyed our family. It is the worst thing ever.

"I am so full of anger and frustration. It should never have happened.

"I want to make my son better, make it so it never happened, but I can't.

"Dads are supposed to support and protect their children, but I couldn't."

In addition to the custodial sentence imposed for the protection of the public, the 16-year-old will be subject to a Sexual Offenders' Prevention Order for an indefinite period and will be subject to supervision by the Independent Safeguarding Authority.