Boy guilty of sex with girl, eight

An 11-year-old boy has been convicted of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl, while they played together.

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court found the boy guilty of indecently assaulting the girl by a majority verdict.

But the boy was cleared of having under age sex with the child.

The court was told that the children, who cannot be named, were boyfriend and girlfriend in a "childish way" and the pair had been playing football together at the time of the assault last June.

It was not an easy decision to put my daughter through the ordeal of the court case

Girl's mother

The ball was kicked into a garden and the girl ran after it, at which point the boy rugby tackled her and indecently assaulted her.

The boy had denied both charges of indecent assault and of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.

The prosecution described it as a "very sad and disturbing case".

Judge John Griffith Williams, who adjourned sentencing for reports, said the 11-year-old boy would need to receive professional help, a move backed by the girl's parents.

He said: "I will have to face the very difficult task of knowing how to deal with him. You can rest assured that I will make sure that he is helped as much as anything."

The girl's mother said carrying out the prosecution had been "the hardest decision any parent could make".

'Ordeal'

After the verdicts, the victim's tearful mother said she thought the jury had made the right decision.

She said: "I am glad he will get the help he needs. It was not an easy decision to put my daughter through the ordeal of the court case.

"It was one of the hardest decision any parent could make. But I'm glad, its been worthwhile."

The boy was released on bail until he is sentenced.