A FOUR-year-old girl was raped by her teenage stepbrother.

The 14-year-old boy from Bolton, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was given a 12-month referral order .

He pleaded guilty to one count of raping a girl under 13 and one count of assaulting a girl under 13.

The incident occurred at the family’s home address in August when the girl went upstairs while her stepbrother was taking a shower.

She then came downstairs and told her mother what happened.

Andrew Hey, prosecuting, read out the mother’s statement during the sentencing at Bolton Youth Court. She said: “I can’t quite believe what has happened. I cannot stop shaking. My head is spinning with it all.

“I have no reason to doubt what she has told me. She is not one to tell lies.”

Mr Hey said: “Her brother was upstairs having a shower and the girl went to use the toilet.

"After a few minutes their mother shouted up to her to ask what she was doing.

“She then spoke to her mother about what she and her half-brother had engaged in.”

The child told her mother about the oral assault.

The 12-month referral order means the teenager must attend a youth offender panel.

The panel, the offender, the parents and the victim will agree a contract and aim to repair the harm that has been caused by the incident.

District Judge Mark Hadfield told the defendant: “You are 14 years old, 13 at the time you committed these very, very serious offences.

“In fairness to you, you co-operated with the police, but I don’t really need to tell you that, had you been a little older, you would be facing a more serious sentence.

“If I had thought custodial sentence was appropriate you would have been sent to crown court.

“The consequences have been far-reaching. It has had an impact on the family. My one hope is the young age of your stepsister will mean it will be forgotten in the distant future.

“Thankfully your school attendance has improved since the commitment of the offences so I hope this represents an isolated incident. A good deal of work has been done on your behalf by social services and the youth offenders’ service.

“They feel that you are a young man who can be dealt with in the community rather than being locked up for many months or even years.”