TWO teenage boys were yesterday (Friday) given indeterminate prison sentences for a serious assault and sexual assault on another boy.

Anthony Ford and Kane Lammin, both 17 now but 16 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty in May to an attack on the then 17-year-old boy at a house in Salisbury Road, Gloucester in November last year.

Ford was convicted of rape and assault by penetration. He will serve a minimum of 6 years in custody.

Lammin was convicted of assault by penetration and actual bodily harm and will serve a minimum of 6 and a half years in custody.

During the attack the victim was taken into the cellar of a house and subjected to a vicious and degrading sexual assault, under threat of violence.

Detective Sergeant Nigel Hatten said: "This is one of the most shocking cases I’ve dealt with.

“We know there had been a disagreement amongst the boys beforehand but it’s impossible to gauge what was going through the minds of the offenders when they did this.

“The report of the incident came through a third party and it took a lot of time, effort and patience from my officers and our partners in the social care and youth offending services to ensure the victim felt comfortable enough to give evidence against his attackers.

“I want to pay tribute to him for remarkable courage in standing up against these boys and I hope it encourages others to come forward if they have suffered sexual or physical abuse.

"I also hope the conviction of these boys will bring some comfort to the victim and his family and that in time the offenders come to realise the devastation they have caused.”

Roger Clayton, Independent Chair for both Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults and Children’s Boards, said, “I am absolutely appalled by this incident. Thankfully attacks of this nature are extremely rare.

“Our absolute priority is to keep people in Gloucestershire safe. That is why I am commissioning a review so we can reassure people we are doing all we can to prevent this type of incident.”