Boy becomes UK's youngest convicted rapist after attacking nine-year-old sister

Unnamed 11-year-old has been given a 12-month intensive referral order

The boy's victim was just nine-years-old (Rex Features)

An 11-year-boy is believed to have become Britain’s youngest rapist after admitting abusing his nine-year-old sister.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught after pictures of the two attacks on his sibling were found on his mobile phone.

The attacks are understood to have taken place at their home in Plymouth earlier this year, with the boy believed to have ejaculated on at least one occasion.

He was handed a 12-month intensive referral order - meaning he will work with counsellors and youth workers to change his behaviour - at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court in Cornwall after admitting to two counts of rape at an earlier hearing.

He will also be supervised while using the internet and will have to sign the sex offenders’ register for two years.

The boy, who now lives in Cornwall, was supported in the dock by his mother and foster mother.

District Judge Diane Baker said the ejaculation was an aggravating factor and if he had been older he would have received a prison sentence, the Daily Mail reported.

She said: “I’ve read all about you. I know a lot about what has happened in your life and your mum’s life in the past and the difficulties you faced and the confusion you face now about how you wish to lead your life.

“But what you did was so serious and so damaging to your little sister.

“She was nine years old - she does not understand about those things and you hurt her so seriously. That will last with her for the whole of her life.

“If you were older, I’m telling you now you would be serving a sentence of detention - that’s like prison. But you were only 11.”

Justice Baker told him she understood it would be difficult for him not to see his brothers and sisters but it was necessary that he would be separated from them until it was “safe”.

Speaking afterwards, the boy's mother told the court she was happy he was getting the support he needed.

He agreed that he would work to make sure it never happened again and was willing "to go back to school to make friends".