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Freed child rapist attacks again | Freed child rapist attacks again |
(20 minutes later) | |
A judge has been criticised for allowing a 16-year-old rapist to walk free, eight days before he abducted and sexually assaulted a five-year-old boy. | |
Judge Adrian Smith had given the youth a community order for raping a boy, seven, in Tameside, Greater Manchester. | |
When sentencing he considered the victim's family, who forgave the youth because of their Christian beliefs. | |
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has lodged an appeal against the sentence on the grounds it was too lenient. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has lodged an appeal against the sentence on the grounds it was too lenient. |
Family's feelings | |
A CPS spokesman said: "It is rare to lodge these kind of sentence appeals with the attorney general, but we felt very strongly about this case. | A CPS spokesman said: "It is rare to lodge these kind of sentence appeals with the attorney general, but we felt very strongly about this case. |
"We appealed two days after he received his sentence, unfortunately he committed another assault eight days later." | "We appealed two days after he received his sentence, unfortunately he committed another assault eight days later." |
It is understood the feelings of the victim's family were a mitigating factor. | It is understood the feelings of the victim's family were a mitigating factor. |
The rapist, who cannot be identified, has since been remanded in custody. | |
He committed the first attack in June 2008. | He committed the first attack in June 2008. |
A year later, on 28 June 2009, he appeared in Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court before Judge Smith and was given a three-year community order, despite the objections of the CPS and Greater Manchester Police. | |
Then, on 4 July, he abducted and raped a five-year-old boy. | Then, on 4 July, he abducted and raped a five-year-old boy. |
He appeared at the same court on Thursday and admitted his latest offences of rape, kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence and attempted rape. | |
The youth is due to be sentenced on 11 November. | The youth is due to be sentenced on 11 November. |
The attorney general's office said it had passed on the CPS's objections to the Court of Appeal. | |
A spokeswoman from the Judicial Communications Office said it did not comment on sentences given by judges. | A spokeswoman from the Judicial Communications Office said it did not comment on sentences given by judges. |