Boy who raped four girls detained

The girls were playing near swings in the Mandley Park play area

A 15-year-old boy who admitted raping four primary school girls has been sentenced to four years in a young offenders institution.

The teenager, who admitted the attacks, was ordered by Manchester Crown Court to spend another five years on license after serving his custodial sentence.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of rape against a seven-year-old, two eight-year-olds and a 10-year-old.

The offences happened near swings in Mandley Park, Salford, in July 2005.

Game of dare

The court heard how the boy approached the girls as they played tag in a secluded area of the park.

He suggested they play a game of dare with him.

The boy, who was 14 at the time of the attack, was arrested the following day.

The judge refused to lift reporting restrictions to allow the media to name the youth.

The innocence of our daughters was cruelly stolen from them by this sexual ordeal Statement from the victims' parents

Manchester Crown Court heard how one of the youngsters was ignored by passers-by as she cried for help.

One girl described how her attacker threatened to kill her if she failed to agree to his demands.

Another recounted how he said he would "leather them" if they tried to run away.

The teenager denied a further four sex offences, alleged to have happened in January, but they were ordered to lie on file.

'Devastated lives'

The victims' parents said they were pleased with the sentence and hoped the boy would get treatment to stop him offending again.

"The innocence of our daughters was cruelly stolen from them by this sexual ordeal. They will never be the same," their statement said.

Det Ch Insp Joanne Rawlinson, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "They had no concept of sex or what was happening to them - this ordeal has completely devastated their lives."

She said the children were having regular counselling but added: "I think it is going to take a long, long time for them ever to recover."