Rapist told to pay for victim's holiday

A SCHOOLBOY convicted of rape was put on probation yesterday and ordered by the judge to pay pounds 500 to send his young victim on 'a good holiday'.

Judge John Prosser told the boy: 'It will give this girl the chance of a good holiday to help her get over the trauma.'

He thought a custodial sentence would not help the victim or her attacker, who might then mix with people who would teach him 'more bad habits'. As well as ordering the boy to pay the compensation he placed him on probation for three years.

After the hearing, the girl's father called the sentence 'disgraceful'. He said: 'This has ruined my daughter's life - what difference will a fortnight in the sun make to her?'

He said his daughter was frightened of meeting the boy, who lives only half a mile away.

Detective Inspector Alan Coates said: 'We are dismayed at the sentence for what was a particularly nasty crime. The boy showed no remorse.'

Jill Radford, of the Rights of Women group, said of the judge: 'He is obviously unaware of the nature of rape and sexual violence and its potentially long-lasting impact. A two-week holiday will do nothing to help the victim's pain.'

The boy raped his classmate on his 15th birthday, Newport Crown Court in Gwent was told. His victim, also 15, was dragged off the school tennis court in a headlock and attacked in nearby woods after he asked for a birthday kiss.

The girl sobbed in the witness box while describing her ordeal to the jury, who returned a unanimous guilty verdict. The boy had pleaded not guilty to rape.

Judge Prosser told him: 'You found a girl who said 'no' but you would not take 'no' for an answer.

'There are many, many young girls who say 'no' and mean it. The sooner you learn that the better.'

But the judge also said he feared what might happen if he made a detention order.

'No judge wants to send a boy as young as you away and into custody, especially as you come from a good and honest family.'

The boy, from Cwmbran, Gwent, cannot be named to protect his victim's identity.