A County Tyrone youth who raped a child and sexually abused another has been placed on probation for three years and made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The youth, who cannot be identified due to his age, appeared before Dungannon Crown Court where he admitted two separate sets of sexual offending involving children.

In order of occurrence, between August 2016 and September 2017, the boy raped a female child.

The following year, in August 2018 he sexually assaulted a male child on two occasions.

The exact ages of the victims are unknown, with court papers describing them as under 13.

Judge Brian Sherrard QC said: “I must decide what should happen to (youth) for these serious wrongdoings. I must think about the harm caused and make sure others don’t suffer the same as the victims in these instances. What he did caused a lot of pain to the victims and their families.”

The court heard even now the female victim feels sad, scared, angry, and nervous. It is difficult for her to trust people and she now thinks differently about boys. Her mother described her as “a completely different child” who suffers from nightmares and doesn’t feel safe.

The male victim’s mother said he was left troubled and scared and has had to undergo a lot of assistance to help him come to terms with what happened.

The Judge remarked: “Sadly, I cannot make things better for the victims. They are lucky to have good families to help and support them.”

He said while not an excuse, the youth has found it difficult to learn things and isn’t able to understand the same as others, which has caused problems.

Since pleading guilty an expert has worked with the youth in depth to assist him in acknowledging his offending but a lot more input is required and for a significant duration into the future.

Judge Sherrard noted: “It appears (youth) would have found it difficult to understand how his victims felt. But he knew what he was doing was not right. The court needs to make sure he does not hurt anyone else in the way he hurt these victims. When adults hurt others in this way they are sent to jail for very long terms of imprisonment. When young people hurt others, I must think of ways to ensure they don’t do it again.”

Imposing a three year Probation Order, Judge Sherrard warned the youth has a lot more work to do and: “It is important for everyone that he knows how to behave in future.”

Judge Sherrard also found it: “necessary and proportionate” to impose a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which includes a number of conditions, including a ban on contact with the victims and their families.

This is to run for five years.

The youth will also be subject to Sex Offender Registration for two-and-a-half years.