A British judge today sentenced two young brothers who tortured and sexually abused two children to an indeterminate period in custody.
In an incident the judge at Sheffield Crown Court described as "appalling and terrible", the brothers attacked a nine-year-old and an 11-year-old boy in Edlington, near Doncaster last April.
The brothers, who are aged 11 and 12, pleaded guilty to causing their victims grievous bodily harm with intent, robbery and intentionally causing a child to engage in sexual activity. They have also admitted causing another 11-year-old actual bodily harm a week before the torture incident.
Mr Justice Keith told the brothers today their crimes are "truly exceptional".
The judge had spent two days listening to harrowing accounts of how the boys, then aged 10 and 11, lured their victims to a secluded spot and subjected them to 90 minutes of violence and sexual humiliation.
The victims were strangled, hit with bricks, made to eat nettles, burned with cigarettes, stripped and forced to sexually abuse each other. The older victim was left with life-threatening injuries.
"The fact is this was prolonged, sadistic violence for no reason other than that you got a real kick out of hurting and humiliating them," he said. "The bottom line for the two of you is that I'm sure you both pose a very high risk of serious harm to others."
Sentencing them to an indeterminate term, he told them they would serve a minimum of five years.
Yesterday, the court heard that one of the brothers told police he attacked his victims because he was bored.
Lawyers for the two defendants described their violent and chaotic upbringing as “toxic”.
Peter Kelson QC, for the elder brother, said his client watched ultra-violent films, had access to pornographic DVDs, drank cider, had 10 cigarettes a day and smoked cannabis grown on his father’s allotment from the age of nine.
The court heard the younger boy, has been described by a psychiatrist as a “very high risk” to the community and in danger of becoming a “seriously disturbed psychopathic offender”.