A teenager has been jailed for four years after raping an eight-year-old boy in an alley

A teenager has been jailed for four years after raping an eight-year-old boy in an alley.

The schoolboy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was just 14 when he assaulted the young victim twice.

He dragged the boy by his trouser pocket towards an alleyway after he refused to go to a field, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

He was given an extended sentence by a judge who decided the now 16-year-old was a 'real and present' danger to the public.

Judge Michael Carroll said if he had been dealing with an adult, the starting point for sentence would have been 12 years

He said of the victim: 'I am satisfied there is psychological harm. I am satisfied he was particularly vulnerable due to his extreme age compared to your age.

'I am absolutely satisfied that although you have no convictions or findings of guilt, there is a significant risk of serious harm in future of this behaviour at your hands.

'I am not prepared to put the public at risk by ignoring it. I am satisfied this is a case for not only a sentence of some length, but for an extension of licence.'

The teenager, from Medway, Kent, will have to serve two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for release and will then be on licence for a further four years.

John Barker, defending, said the two admitted rapes were part of the same incident.

He said: 'Of course, one accepts the offences are horrendous, as this is going to have an impact. He makes no excuses for his offending.

'He said: "I did to him what was done to me." It was not an attempt to justify what he had done.'

The teenager was brought up in appalling circumstances and was 'in a very bad place' when he committed the rapes.

Mr Barker added: 'He needs support - intervention. He plainly had problems because of his background.'

The lawyer said if there had been any suitable accommodation available he would have submitted the teenager would be better off receiving care in the community.

The teenager's name will appear on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.