Boy, 12, raped girl during game

A boy of 12 has been found guilty of raping a 10-year-old girl during a game of hide-and-seek in Merseyside.

The court heard the victim was raped several times but because the boy was aged under 10 when he carried out most of them, he was considered below the age of criminal responsibility in English law.

On Wednesday a jury at Liverpool Crown Court delivered a unanimous verdict against the boy, who was warned he could face a custodial sentence.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was ordered to have his name included on the sex offenders' register, which his mother signed on his behalf because of his age.

Hide and seek

During his three-day trial the boy was cleared of a further two charges of rape and one of attempted rape.

The court heard the rape took place at the boy's Wavertree home during a game of hide and seek, while their mothers chatted downstairs.

Julie Forsyth, prosecuting, told the court the mothers of the children were friends and on 4 April this year the victim and her mother were at the boy's home.

The next day the girl broke down in tears and told her mother that she had been attacked.

The boy, who sat in the well of the court rather than the dock, denied having any sexual contact with her, claiming she asked him to have sex with her, but he refused.

Judge Gerald Clifton adjourned sentence until January for reports to be prepared.

The boy was remanded into the continuing care of a foster parent.