A COUNCIL has refused to reveal the findings of a review into the care of a teenager who left a ten-year-old girl for dead on a river bank - because it would cause the attacker "further distress".

Connor Hodgson's assault on the schoolgirl caused such outrage in her community that police were forced to appeal for calm in the days following the incident.

She was beaten repeatedly by the 16-year-old who lured her away from her friends.

People on the close-knit estate in Stockton demanded to know why such a dangerous youth had been allowed to live in council care in their midst and following Hodgson's jailing, Stockton Borough Council carried out a review.

However the anticipated publication of the report has been halted because officials are concerned about the effect it might have on the teenager.

He was jailed indefinitely for the attack last July, after he admitted causing the girl, now 11, grievous bodily harm with intent.

Teesside Crown Court was told he throttled her and beat her around the head so viciously he could have killed her.

He could give no explanation for why he attacked the youngster in April last year.

The court heard Hodgson, who was in foster care, had a history of petty crime and had shown worrying sexual behaviour as a result of abuse he himself had suffered as a child.

James Wharton, Conservative MP for Stockton South, criticised the council and said their involvement in Hodgson's care should be released.

He said: "Given that if there are any details which rightly should be kept private and confidential they could be redacted as is allowed under the Freedom of Information legislation.

"I can see no justification why this information is not released and it is clearly a matter of public interest.

"Many people will see this as an attempt to cover-up what may be a failure to implement any real changes following an extremely serious and worrying case."

The girls family has now left the estate and started a new life in a different county.

Her father said: "He almost killed my daughter. Why was he allowed to be on our estate when he was when he had previous? He should not have been able to run the streets.

" The report should be made public so everyone knows the sort of person he is.

The girl's mother added: "That thug should never have been allowed to live on an estate full of young families."

Shocking images released by the victim's family show the patchwork of scars and staples inserted into the wounds following the vicious assault.

In refusing to release the internal report, Julie Grant, a reviewing officer for Stockton Borough Council, wrote: "The review of procedures centred on an audit of social care intervention in respect of a living individual.

"This was not the part of the criminal investigation and as far as I can ascertain was not discussed in open court.

"Given the passage of time and the fact that the criminal proceedings are concluded any disclosure of personal data arising from the councils audit is in my view unwarranted.

"Disclosure would not cause any embarrassment for the council but it is likely to cause further harm and distress to Connor Hodgson."

The council did release the changes it has implemented since the review, which include:

*For long-term cases involving sexually harmful behaviour, or for medium to high-risk behaviour, managers undertake supervision monthly as opposed to quarterly;

*Minutes of "Team around the Child" meetings are shared with the Youth Offending Service and time scales for agreed actions are enforced;

*Training on the risk assessment framework and processes is carried out;

*Offending history to be detailed on a "significant event" screen.