Boy, 13, admits raping 5-year-old; devastated mom says she wanted to kill self

Hampshire: A 13-year-old boy admitted to raping his friend at his home in Hampshire in August last year. The girl was only five when the horrifying incident took place.

Just a day before the trial was about to start in the case, the boy confessed that he had sexually assaulted the five-year-old girl in his bedroom.

According to a report in Daily Mail, the Magistrates at Fareham Youth Court, Hampshire, were informed that the crime took place in the defendant’s bedroom last year, when he was 12.

The statements of the victim’s mother was read out loud in court wherein she said that her family was completely ‘devastated’ when they came to know about what had happened to their little girl.

"When we first found out about what happened we were both devastated and it felt like someone had torn our hearts out. I didn't know how we were going to get through this but I kept my daughter close to me at all times. I feel like I have let my daughter down," the mother said in the statement.

She said that her family had suffered greatly due to the incident and that both she and her husband suffered from depression. The mother went on to state that at one point she even considered killing herself because of what had happened.

The boy’s lawyer in his defence said that he was mentally challenged and had the mental capacity of a seven-year-old.

Defence lawyer Natalie Dennington explained that her client had progressively become more anxious as the court date for hearing appeared closer and changed his plea to guilty.

"He felt it would have such a devastating effect on his family if he admitted to what he had done. We had lots of tears but he accepted responsibility for his actions. He should be given credit for someone so young accepting full responsibility," the lawyer said.

The defence explained to the court that it was the boy’s first offence and hoped that the judge would consider his mental age.

'You have admitted a very serious offence but given your age and the circumstances, I am going to make a referral order,' District Judge Anne Arnold said.

The 13-year-old was made a referral order for the maximum of 12 months and he will have to work for the Young Offending Team.

He will also have to sign the sex offenders' register.

All efforts were made to safeguard the identities of the victim and the perpetrator of the crime. No names were revealed to the media.