He changed his plea at Bristol Crown Court ahead of an expected two-week trial
A 17-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to raping a 10-year-old girl in Exmouth last October.
The boy, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, changed his plea at Bristol Crown Court ahead of an expected two-week trial.
He's currently being held in a young offenders institution and is due to be sentenced in November, after the judge agreed to order a psychiatric report.
A police statement said: “Following a full investigation, the suspect who was 16 years of age at the time of the offence, was charged in connection to this incident; he pled guilty to lesser charges of to strangle or choke with intent to sexually assault, and digital penetration of a child under-13.
“A trial was held in Bristol last March in relation to the more serious charges of attempted murder, rape, and choking with intention to commit rape took place.
“The jury found the suspect not guilty to the charge of attempted murder, but were unable to reach a majority decision in relation to the charge of rape, and choking with intention to commit rape.
“Today (22 July) was the first day of the retrial in relation to the charge of rape; this morning the suspect pled guilty to this charge.”
Police have added that the victim has anonymity for life and should not be named, and neither should the suspect who remains under 18 years of age.
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