A TEENAGE rapist has admitted attacking a young girl in a Darlington graveyard.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, targeted the youngster after finding her under the influence of alcohol on Halloween last year, Teesside Crown Court heard.

After carrying out the vile attack the teenager took her back to her friends who called for help when she was unable to stand up.

Andrew Finlay, prosecuting, told the court how the defendant had followed the young teenager to her home earlier in the day resulting her having to leave her house by the rear door to evade his attention.

The judge heard how she was drinking Cactus Jack and vodka on the night and described herself as 'very drunk and barely able to stand'.

"She described how at one point she fell over and hit her head on a bench," he said. "At one point she ended up alone in a graveyard with the defendant. She describes how other people were there and as a result, he took her round the other side of the church."

Mr Finlay said the defendant then proceeded to rape her before leaving her for her friends to look after her.

Her sister's boyfriend arrived to pick her up and described to police how 'she had no control over her body whatsoever' before she was taken to hospital.

A nurse who treated the teenager told police the victim was 'curled up in a ball crying uncontrollably' before she was medically examined.

In a victim personal statement, the teenager said she suffered flashbacks whenever she was contacted by the police about the case leaving her upset and anxious.

She said: "When the attack first happened a lot of people were calling me a liar and it felt just horrible.

"I didn't really go outside for months because if I did people would talk to me about what happened or I would see him.

"It was a horrible situation to be in. Most people turned on me and called me a liar, which really hurt and upset me."

The teenager said she now found it hard to trust anyone and no longer had any friends as a result of the rape.

The 17-year-old, from the Darlington area, admitted to one count of rape when he appeared in Youth Court in September.

Simon Perkins, in mitigation, said his client had acted out of character on the night of the rape and he played no role in the victim drinking that night.

He said: "There was nothing in his behaviour, his approach to education or to his social responsibility to suggest this was anyone could have foreseen happening with this lad."

Mr Perkins added that the defendant had accepted that his conviction had ruined his chance of joining the army.

The court heard how the defendant had been threatened in his home by masked men armed with hammers.

Mr Perkins said the police had investigated the incident at the time.

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced the teenager to a three-year Youth Rehabilitation Order with a number of stringent requirements were also imposed to monitor his behaviour.

He said: "It would have been obvious to anybody and it must have obvious to you that she wasn't walking steady and very much affected by what she had consumed.

"The sexual activity could not have taken place with her consent."

The teenager must observe a tagged curfew between 10pm and 6am for six months and will be subject to sex offender notification requirements for 30 months.

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