Teenager admits raping stepbrother

A teenager who sexually abused his stepbrother and stepsisters has avoided a jail term.

The youth, who is from the Bristol area but cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted raping his stepbrother between January 2002 and February 2003.

The 17-year-old also pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting two of his stepsisters, who are aged 10 and eight.

At Bristol Crown Court on Thursday he was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order.

Foster care

Ordering the teenager to sign the sex offender's register, Judge Carol Hagen admitted her decision not to send him into custody was "an exceptional course" but said he was responding well to help.

She told him: "It must have taken a great deal of courage on your part to plead guilty to the offences that you have."

The court heard how the teenager was the eldest of seven children living in a three-bedroom house.

One of the offences took place when he was babysitting for the others after a family trip to the zoo in February last year.

He sexually assaulted his stepsister in his bedroom and was arrested after the girl told her mother.

He has since been put into foster care.