Inquiry into rape after boy convicted

Gateshead child protection committee has launched an inquiry into
the case of a 12-year-old boy who became the youngest person to be
convicted of rape last week.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to
life at Teesside Crown Court for the attack on a teacher during
one-to-one tuition.

He was known to Gateshead social services. Area child protection
committee chair Simon Hart said the committee was taking the case
“very seriously”.

He added that “a number of agencies in the region have worked
intensively with this boy over the past few years”.

Hart said: “At the time of the incident there appears to have been
nothing to indicate he was a risk to adults.”

An independent barrister will examine the case on behalf of the
committee and report in June.