Sex attacker, 11, secretly sent

to primary school



A boy of 11 who had been judged a serious risk to other children inflicted the most appalling sexual abuse on a classmate after he was secretly placed in a mainstream school.

The youngster, who was living in local authority care, had carried out sex attacks on children before but was never charged because he was too young.

Previous attacks: the boy was judged a serious risk

Instead, social workers moved him into specialist care, where he should have been taught.

But despite a two-inch thick file on his disturbing behaviour, he was put in a mainstream school, where he began the chain of events that led to the attack on a nine-year-old fellow pupil.

Last night, his victim's devastated parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the move was an attempt by the council to save money.

And they demanded answers after it emerged the boy has since been placed in another mainstream school. They told how, despite complaining to officials, they felt ignored by authorities and were forced to remove their son after his attacker was allowed to remain in classes for eight months - even after admitting the offence to police.

'We fear this boy still poses a serious danger to children,' his heartbroken mother said. 'He is predatory and displayed all the signs of adult-like grooming, using threats and intimidation.'

The mother, 43, said she only learnt about the boy's past after her son was attacked.

Authorities were aware of his activity with other children but because at the time he was under ten - the age of criminal responsibility - he was never charged.

Within months of arriving at the school, the boy began grooming the younger pupil. Then, with the knowledge of his care workers, he was allowed to visit his victim's home where the attack, in 2008, was carried out.

The victim's mother said although the family were aware the 11-year-old was living in care, they believed it was because his parents had split up.

'We obviously didn't know then he had a history of sexual abuse against other children,' she said. 'He should never have been allowed to come to our home.'

The boy was charged with indecent assault but the case was dropped when he admitted the offence and was given a final warning - the youth equivalent of a caution. He was not placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

The local ombudsman is now re-examining the complaint.

MP Sir Alan Beith, chairman of the justice committee, called for an independent inquiry. He said: 'I'm not satisfied that all necessary steps have been taken to learn lessons from the case.'

Northumberland council said the boy was 'doing well with foster parents and at a new school'.