Two boys aged 10 and 11 have been found guilty of the attempted rape of an eight year old girl. I find it almost impossible to get my head around this.
The evidence in the case suggested that they were indulging in the sort of curiosity that children have shown in each other’s bodies since the dawn of time. They were initially charged with rape until the little girl told the court that this had not actually happened.
Boys of that age are almost certainly pre-pubescent and their interest in the little girl almost certainly non-sexual. A jury at the Old Bailey heard the evidence and found them not guily of rape but guilty of attempted rape. They will now be on the sex offenders register, though as the judge said he had no idea what that meant for children of this age.
Is there any other period in our history, or any other country in the world, where the pre-pubescent fumblings of children would result in a rape trial? We bombard children with sexual imagery and then are surprised when they show interest in what it means. It is astonishing that they were convicted but even more amazing is that it even came to court at all.
Have we lost all concept of childhood in this country?
“I don’t think anyone who has sat through this trial would think for a moment that the system that we employ is ideal,” said Mr Justice Saunders.
He can say that again.
Boys 10, 11 guilty of attempted rape
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ed that two extremely young children are on the sex offender registry now. I'd be interested to know what the other evidence suggested about the case, because that could tell you whether this was a case of curious "fumblings of children" or an attempt to act out a rape scene. Even in the latter case, I think these children are far too young to be held morally responsible, but mandatory treatment of some sort would certainly be in order. 
Originally Posted by s.rwitt
