Sydney Police charges 2 pre-teen boys with rape of 6-year-old primary school student

Previous recent suspects in the rape of Australian minors were a 30-year-old Taiwanese man and a 27-year-old Perth woman who were charged for sexual assault on 11- and 9-year-old boys. However, in Sydney, police charged two 12-year-old boys with the rape of a 6-year-old girl in a primary school toilet block.

The very young age of the victim and offenders highlights the growth of child abuse cases in Australia, and the incident happening at school. ABC reports the sexual assault happened in early August, but the Chatswood Police Station was alerted a week later and the two young suspects were arrested on Tuesday.

The Department of Education informed detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad of the incident at the primary school. The two boys are expected to face court on Sept 22, and out on bail but suspended from primary school.

Four counts of aggravated sexual assault and two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10 has been filed against one of the boys. The other boy faces two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of sexual intercourse with a child under 10.

The victim was reportedly assaulted two times in two straight weeks. In the first incident, only one boy was involved, while in the second, the first boy brought a male friend who also allegedly raped the girl in the school toilet, reports Independent.

The school is notifying parents and carers of students in the primary school of the incident.

VIDEO: Challenges faced by young rape victims

Source: SABC Digital News