A BOY of 13 sexually assaulted a five-year-old girl he was babysitting while her siblings slept.

The Swindon teen, who cannot be named because he is under 18, told his victim they were going to play hide and seek. He then undressed her behind the sofa and sexually assaulted her. When she began to cry for her mum, he put his underwear over her head to muffle her.

The teenager sat quietly with arms folded and eyes down as prosecutor Tara Wolfe said: “On March 28 when he was 13, he babysat for a family friend who went out with his mum.

“The next morning, the victim said she didn’t want to go to school because she had a bellyache.

"In front of her siblings, the victim told her mum the defendant woke her up, took her behind the sofa, showed her his genitals and removed her knickers. Then she made a movement with her groin to indicate what he did."

The court heard that after he undressed her, the victim became upset and asked where her mother was, so the boy put his underwear over her head to keep her quiet. When her mother heard this account, she was concerned, took her to school and spoke to the safeguarding officer, then contacted the defendant’s mum, who was sympathetic and angry, then called the police.

“The victim’s mother said the girl used to be very bubbly and outgoing but this has caused her to regress and become nervous and prone to crying. When the defendant was arrested, he denied the offences in three police interviews,” said the prosecutor.

The defendant’s DNA was found on the victim’s underwear. He still denied committing any offences but pleaded guilty in court.

The teenager, now 14, told the court: “I’m definitely ashamed of myself. She’s got the rest of her life and that happening at a young age is going to be on her mind for a long time.”

His social worker said: “I’ve noticed a real change in his behaviour. He still has regular contact with his family, he’s doing really well and making positive steps. He wants to be a better person, move on, and put all this behind him.”

Mark Glendenning, defending, said: “I’ve seen a marked difference between what he was like at the police station and the lad in court who has now accepted responsibility for what he’s done.”

He was given a 12-month referral order for this offence and if he completes it the conviction will be considered ‘spent’ and although it will stay on his record, he won’t, in most cases, have to disclose it.