TWO schoolboys walked free yesterday – despite being found guilty of raping a 10-year-old girl.
The pair were aged 12 and 13 when they carried out the vile attack.
But a judge spared them from being locked up because of their age.
Last night child protection campaigners slammed the decision as “outrageous”.
A court heard how the traumatised victim kept quiet for four months and was left an “empty shell” after her ordeal.
She had gone indoors to play computer games with the boys in February last year. The older lad encouraged the other to have sex with her and later joined in the assault, Newport crown court heard.
Details of the rape only emerged when the girl blurted out what had happened after her mum caught her playing a game of dare with the same boys in woodland.
The pair denied rape but were convicted last month. Yesterday, as they appeared for sentence, Judge Ian Murphy told them: “This is a very serious offence. Had you been adults you would have been looking at a lengthy custodial sentence.
“You were very young at the time and used to play football with the little girl.
“You betrayed your friendship and engaged in impulsive sexual exploration. No force was used but she was only 10.”
He went on: “Her parents have described her as an empty shell and say her innocence was taken from her.”
He ordered the boys to be tagged for three months with a 7pm to 7am curfew. They were also sent on a rehabilitation programme and put on the sex offenders’ register.
What do you think ? should they have been given a custodial sentence ?
