Teen put into care after incestuous incident

8:44am Tuesday 17th April 2007

A teenage boy has admitted he sexually assaulted his 10-year-old sister.

The 15-year-old was found in bed with his younger sibling by their father last October, Swindon Youth Court heard yesterday.

Magistrates sentenced the youth to a 12-month referral order, which will see him staying with foster carers away from the Swindon area and undergoing a programme of care.

The incident occurred after the girl had a row with her parents about what she wanted for breakfast and she went upstairs to her brother's room, according to the prosecution.

Later their father went upstairs, and entered the boy's room to see the two under the duvet. He pulled away the cover and found them both naked, said Marion Langford, prosecuting.

The police were called and both the children were interviewed. Mrs Langford said: "The boy admits unlawful sexual intentions towards his sister.

"He called her into the bedroom and asked her to take off her clothes and get into bed with him." The prosecution accepted that that was all that happened.

Defending, Robert Ross, said: "While he accepts the case, we are dealing with an incestuous relationship within the family, rather than him going out and indecently assaulting people not known to him."

Since the incident, the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been living in foster care and will stay in care for the next 12 months while serving the referral order.