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Brothers admit pit village attack Young brothers admit boys' attack
(about 3 hours later)
Two young brothers have admitted causing grievous bodily harm to two boys, aged nine and 11, who were badly hurt in a South Yorkshire village. Two young brothers who lured two boys, aged nine and 11, to a South Yorkshire ravine before attacking them with bricks have admitted the assault.
The brothers, who were aged 10 and 11 at the time, admitted the charge at Sheffield Crown Court. At Sheffield Crown Court, the brothers, aged 10 and 11 at the time, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.
They were arrested on 4 April after their younger victim was found in the street covered in blood. One of the victims also had a sink dropped on to his head and both were left seriously injured in Edlington.
Attempted murder charges over the attack in Edlington, near Doncaster, were dropped by prosecutors. The brothers were arrested on 4 April after the younger victim, covered in blood, escaped and raised the alarm.
Sexual activity Attempted murder charges over the attack near Doncaster were dropped by prosecutors.
The 11-year-old boy was discovered unconscious in a nearby wooded ravine. Reports are being prepared on the boys, ahead of a sentencing hearing, expected to be held in November.
Both the injured boys have since been released from hospital. 'Forever haunted'
The victims first met their attackers as they played football in a park.
The boys were lured away by the brothers, who promised they would show them a toad they had found, but instead they were subjected to a horrific assault.
One of the boys had a sink dropped on his head, the pair had bricks thrown at them and they were repeatedly stamped on.
The nine-year-old managed to stagger to a nearby house to raise the alarm, covered in blood from wounds to his head and arm.
The 11-year-old boy was later discovered unconscious in the nearby wood.
A woman who first saw the younger child said she would be forever haunted by the image of his bloodied face.
'Left traumatised'
Jean Wright said her 40-year-old son, who then found the badly beaten 11-year-old, was left so traumatised he could no longer walk past the scene of the attacks.
The brothers have each pleaded guilty to robbing one of the boys of a mobile phone and the other of cash.The brothers have each pleaded guilty to robbing one of the boys of a mobile phone and the other of cash.
They also admitted two counts of intentionally causing a child to engage in sexual activity.They also admitted two counts of intentionally causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
The brothers were later charged with one count each of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill in connection with a separate attack on another 11-year-old boy in Doncaster on March 28. Both injured boys have since been released from hospital following their ordeal.
The pair had denied these charges but each pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Throughout this case, the prosecution team have had in mind the distress that attending court and giving evidence would cause all the victims Adrian Lower, CPS
The brothers were later charged with attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill in connection with a separate attack on another 11-year-old boy in Doncaster a week earlier.
The pair had denied these offences, but each have pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The court heard the brothers picked a "discreet" location for the scene of their first attack on the other boy, in trees, by a stream.
But they were interrupted by a passer-by, and a week later chose a "more isolated" place for the attack on the two boys.
The nine-year-old and 11-year-old were led to a large mound of timber, described as a "den", which was hidden from public view, where some of their injuries were inflicted.
The brothers then moved their victims to a second site, at the foot of a 15ft ravine. It was here that a broken sink was used to inflict the more serious head injuries on the 11-year-old.
Nicholas Campbell QC, prosecuting, described the offences as "grave crimes".Nicholas Campbell QC, prosecuting, described the offences as "grave crimes".
The prosecutor said on the day of the second attack, the two brothers should have been at the police station being questioned about the earlier assault.
Serious case review
He said: "Instead, they went out and attacked [the two boys]."
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the decision not to pursue the attempted murder charges was taken in consultation with the victims' families.
Adrian Lower, head of the CPS complex casework unit for South Yorkshire and Humberside, said: "Throughout this case, the prosecution team have had in mind the distress that attending court and giving evidence would cause all the victims."
Doncaster Council said a serious case review was now under way to establish if there are lessons to be learned by any agency involved.
The judge, Mr Justice Keith, will visit the site of the attacks before the boys are sentenced.