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[Symphonia]

A 13-YEAR-OLD boy admitted raping his eight-year-old sister after watching pornography on a friend's Xbox. The case has reignited the debate over children’s access to porn, with a rape charity calling for tighter restrictions. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting the girl and inciting her to perform a sexual act on him. The youngster, from Blackburn, had told police he had been watching porn on the games console with a friend and ‘decided to try it out’.

He said he had chosen his sister because she was small and ‘couldn't remember stuff’. The teenager, who appeared before Blackburn Magistrates Court yesterday, was bailed to live with family members while the youth offending team prepares a pre-sentence report on him. The victim is now being supported by specialist officers.

After the hearing, Det Insp Claire Holbrook, from the public protection unit, said: “This is one of those tragic sexual experimentation cases. “The family is now being supported and the child is recovering well.” Blackburn MP Jack Straw said it was the responsiblity of internet service providers to make sure children could not access sexually-explicit content.

He said: “This case is breathtakingly horrible. It is a horrifying crime which underlines how porn is too readily available to juveniles. I hope that the internet service providers recognise that they have greater responsibilities for controlling access to porn.” Jon Brown, NSPCC lead for tackling sexual abuse, said porn could ‘warp’ children’s views of what was normal sexual behaviour and how they treat others. He said: “This is a horrific and tragic case which must have caused tremendous heartache for the family.

“We know that the vast amount of inappropriate, unrealistic and sometimes downright harmful pornography some children are exposed to through the internet can be extremely damaging to young minds.” A new online safety bill is due to be discussed by a government committee shortly, although an exact date has still to be set.

It proposes that internet users be required to opt in and prove they are over 18 to view adult content. Currently, restrictions have to be put in place on each device with internet access. According to the Xbox customer support website, users can customise their access to games, films and television content.

Parents can also block access to the internet and change the online safety and privacy settings for their account. Fiona Elvines, from the Rape Crisis Charity, said children accessing pornography was a ‘growing concern’.

She said: “This is going to completely destabilise this little girl’s life. “It will take her a very long time to try and work through. It will have put her life on a different track and I do not want that to happen to anybody else.” She added that a similar case involving a teenage boy and his sister had been brought to the charity’s attention last November.

The operations co-ordinator said: “For a long time, people have been sitting on the fence and saying we do not have the evidence to say porn is harmful, but now we are starting to have some evidence around young people’s exposure. “How much evidence do you need? I cannot believe that this is another case so soon. It shows that the government’s measures are extremely important and that we need to start acting. When children see porn, they have no context for what it is used for. There is pressure on children to be sexualised, particularly on younger boys, to start having sex. It is coming from peers and porn.”

The operations co-ordinator called on the Department for Education to make sex and relationships education compulsory in schools, with lessons tailored to the age of the pupils. She said parents should also try to talk about the issue more openly with their children. Miss Elvines said: “Whenever we talk to kids, they say their parents do not know what they look at. "At the moment, children think that what they are watching is what adults do when they have sex, but they need to understand it is not.”

Lancashire Telegraph, via Kotaku

I'm at a loss for words.

Such a tragic thing to happen to the girl, I really hope she can begin on her road to recovery.

 

[NeoGAF.]

Just when you thought those cod yellers couldn't get any worse.

Absolutely disgusting.

 

[Dilly]

When I was 13 and looked at nudes, the last thing going through my mind was raping someone.

 

[entremet]

I have a feeling the boy was probably abused previously or seen something traumatic.

 

[Alienous]

Where are the parents?

I want them in jail.

 

[WhereAreMahDragonz]

Wow. Poor girl. My heart goes out to her.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Damn.

Just when you thought those cod yellers couldn't get any worse.

It's not necessary to try to be funny in every situation.

 

[Ikki]

Poor girl

 

[Freaky Fred]

damn, poor girl.

He said he had chosen his sister because she was small and ‘couldn't remember stuff’.

I wish that were true.. if only those neuralyzers from Men in Black were real.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

That's a fucked up kid. Hopefully they get him help.

 

[Appleman]

Terrible story, but I think the parents should be more diligent about what the kids are watching, I can't believe that the burden should be placed on the ISPs

 

[Korosenai]

Adding on to this

It's not necessary to try to be funny in every situation.

Or to try to get the first post in every single new thread.

 

[samus i am]

Uhhhhhh I was watching porn at 13, and no way does it cause you to rape your sister.

 

[Count Dookkake]

This has nothing to do with video games or porn and everything to do with the responsibilities of being a parent.

 

[Symphonia]

Like you guys, I saw porn at 13/14 and not once did I feel compelled to go out and rape someone. There must be some sort of underlying trauma in the boys life for something like to come instantly to his mind when watching porn.

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

When I was 13 and looked at nudes, the last thing going through my mind was raping someone.

Yeah, no shit. The problem here isn't pornography or video games (pretty lame how they just had to mention the XBox). This kid obviously has deep mental issues. But hey, continue ignoring mental illness and blame everything else.

 

[WhereAreMahDragonz]

Terrible story, but I think the parents should be more diligent about what the kids are watching, I can't believe that the burden should be placed on the ISPs

I agree, but I think there's also a high probability that the teen in this case is also a victim of some kind of sexual abuse. Adolescents commonly project and mimic their experiences onto others in an attempt to cope with a traumatic event.

 

[Zee-Row]

I saw porn at his age and was just fine. This kid was either raised shitty or has some sort of chemical imbalance. Regardless he needs to be punished.

 

[Lautaro]

Uhhhhhh I was watching porn at 13, and no way does it cause you to rape your sister.

Yeah, rapists are rapists. This one just started sooner than the average.

 

[Deleted member 325805]

Yeah, no shit. The problem here isn't pornography or video games (pretty lame how they just had to mention the XBox). This kid obviously has deep mental issues. But hey, continue ignoring mental illness and blame everything else.

Exactly this.

 

[Wazzy]

Ugh I feel ill. You know right from wrong at 13. I don't know how you deal with this, though. He needs extensive therapy and should be charged.

 

[Arkos]

As others have said, it's obviously neither the 360 nor the porn that made this kid do this horrible act. He has deep issues, I hope the girl (and the boy, I suppose) are okay.

 

[commedieu]

Where are the parents?

I want them in jail.

What world does this point come from? America most nations has a gigantic divorce rate. A large number of homeless children and teens. A lot of children without 2 parents in the household, a lot of plain, non households and other relatives taking care of children. The family unit doesn't seem to be the status-quo. Its hardly the first line of defense anymore. This comes up a lot in threads.

we need other fail safes, in the face of the world that doesn't have nuclear families attached to each internet connection. But it has to be acknowledged first, before we can get the conversation about supplemental protection/safety measures. This kid, and his xbox, is probably the least of societies worries. He needs to be monitored, and i'd imagine his mental state isn't conducive to a normal way of life.

 

[AbortedWalrusFetus]

Dear parents,

Video game systems have parental controls.

Please use them.

Sincerely,
All of us

 

[SquiddyCracker]

They should ban X, because of the children.

 

[PK Strawstorm]

How is porn viewable on an XBox without being transferred from a computer? Internet explorer?

 

[massoluk]

I hope the girl turned out ok.

 

[perfectchaos007]

I agree, but I think there's also a high probability that the teen in this case is also a victim of some kind of sexual abuse. Adolescents commonly project and mimic their experiences onto others in an attempt to cope with a traumatic event.

Yep, my sister did some student teaching at a low income rural elementary school and heard all sorts of cases involving brother/sister incest. Its just sad because you know it stems from their environment at home.

 

[Mechazawa]

That little shit knew exactly what he was doing.

 

[Nicktendo86]

Please not UK please not UK please not... Oh fuck.

Edit: and no Jack Straw it isn't the responsibility of the isp's, it is the responsibility of the lazy arsed parents to keep an eye on their kids, limit the content they can get access to and raise their kids to not want to rape their siblings.

 

[phosphor112]

Smh.

 

[Darko]

Didnt know porn makes you a rapist.

 

[Fenderputty]

When I was 13 and looked at nudes, the last thing going through my mind was raping someone.

I wasn't thinking of my sister either.

 

[Symphonia]

How is porn viewable on an XBox without being transferred from a computer? Internet explorer?

Basically.

He viewed it on the consoles internet browser which has now prompted charities to enforce tighter regulations where ISPs are concerned. But, honestly, I don't believe it's down to the ISP to monitor each individual customer. The parents should've had parental control activated.

 

[Borgnine]

How is porn viewable on an XBox without being transferred from a computer? Internet explorer?

Sorry can't tell you, trying to prevent rapes here.

 

[Devolution]

You have to wonder about his mental state, home life and education about sex (or lack thereof from his parents). Plenty of people, kids, watch stuff like that at his age and their first thought isn't "I'm going to stick my dick in my sister." Something else is amiss here.

 

[Starviper]

While it is indeed tragic and quite messed up, I REALLY dislike that the article is putting the blame on the Internet Service Provider rather than the parents for not making use of parental restrictions or monitoring what the child is doing. The service provides a service, access to the internet and all that it brings along with it, but it is up to the parents to lock down their computers and other devices to prevent this sort of thing from happening.

And if you want to go down the road of having access to a computer, make a separate user account for the child with restricted access.

Makes me so annoyed.

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

Didnt know porn makes you a rapist.

Only when you watch it on XBox it does.

 

[Cow Mengde]

Why does it have to be that the kid has mental issues or was abused?

Not all of us wants to rape someone after being exposed to porn, but that doesn't mean kids aren't curious about these things. Why can't it be a case of the kid not knowing any better and letting his curiosity get the best of him?

Now I'm not saying my theory makes this tragic news any better. I think people just ignore the fact that kids are easily influenced at that age. You're telling me you never had stupid thoughts when you were that age? It doesn't have to be sexual, but you could be curious about other things and do stupid shit. Some of it might be driven by peer pressure, or not knowing any better.

I think better communication on sex is in order. I see this as more of a case of poor education and being young and stupid.

 

[massoluk]

Sorry can't tell you, trying to prevent rapes here.

Don't worry, everyone here watches porn for educational purposes and cultural values. And the plot.

 

[Darklord]

This has nothing to do with porn. Even before internet kids looked at playboys and sex magazines and got their hands on porn movies. This kid is seriously fucked up in the head. I hate how these stories always find a scapegoat and never focus on the biggest issue being mental issues.

A kid can look at the sickest, most hardcore porn in the world and not want to rape their sister. This kid's a monster oh but it's porns fault? Fuck off.

 

[Nicktendo86]

You have to wonder about his mental state, home life and education about sex (or lack thereof from his parents). Plenty of people, kids, watch stuff like that at his age and their first thought isn't "I'm going to stick my dick in my sister." Something else is amiss here.

It is way easier to blame porn, internet service providers and Xbox rather than lookimj at parental responsibility, our social services and sex education as a whole though.

 

[Damaniel]

When I was 13 and looked at nudes, the last thing going through my mind was raping someone.

This, combined with the 'targeting his younger sister because she wouldn't remember stuff' line point out that this a pretty clear-cut case of a sociopathic future rapist-in-training getting caught early. Access to pornography or not, a person with issues like this at the age of 13 was going on to spend a lifetime in jail for rape and/or sexual abuse anyway.

We need to do more to get people like this out of society and into places where either they can get help, or can at least be kept safely away from others, as early as possible. Banning or blocking porn does nothing to solve the underlying problem, and just serves as a convenient target to blame when the true problem is the person him or herself, and not what they're watching.

 

[Freedom = $1.05]

Yeah, that child has more problems than just having access to porn. If every 13 year old child who has access to porn acted on it with their siblings the human race would've died off the moment erotic magazines came out.

 

[fuzzyreactor]

I've had a similar things happen in my family. My cousin raped his step sister when he was 13 and she was 8. It didn't get discovered until he was 17 and he was sentenced to juvenile for a year and is now in prison until he is in his late 20's. We all know what he did was wrong but how does this sentence help anything. He's spending the most important part of his life behind bars, he'll never adjust when he is released. I think therapy and forms of community service+some restrictions would have been a better form of rehabilitation.

 

[RustyNails]

I am at loss for words.

 

[Lautaro]

Please not UK please not UK please not... Oh fuck.

Edit: and no Jack Straw it isn't the responsibility of the isp's, it is the responsibility of the lazy arsed parents to keep an eye on their kids, limit the content they can get access to and raise their kids to not want to rape their siblings.

You know, rapists and other criminals also have parents.

Being a good parent could reduce the chances of having a rapist son but it won't eliminate them. Maybe parents are guilty in this specific case but I doubt the wisdom in assigning blame to parents for the crimes of their children.

 

[commedieu]

Why does it have to be that the kid has mental issues or was abused?

Not all of us wants to rape someone after being exposed to porn, but that doesn't mean kids aren't curious about these things. Why can't it be a case of the kid not knowing any better and letting his curiosity get the best of him?

Now I'm not saying my theory makes this tragic news any better. I think people just ignore the fact that kids are easily influenced at that age. You're telling me you never had stupid thoughts when you were that age? It doesn't have to be sexual, but you could be curious about other things and do stupid shit. Some of it might be driven by peer pressure, or not knowing any better.

I think better communication on sex is in order.

I think you qualify for at least being reviewed for mental screenings when you rape your sister.. as theres precedent for abuse leading children to abuse others. Isn't it ok, for this one..?

 

[Alienous]

What world does this point come from? America most nations has a gigantic divorce rate. A large number of homeless children and teens. A lot of children without 2 parents in the household, a lot of plain, non households and other relatives taking care of children. The family unit doesn't seem to be the status-quo. Its hardly the first line of defense anymore. This comes up a lot in threads.

we need other fail safes, in the face of the world that doesn't have nuclear families attached to each internet connection. But it has to be acknowledged first, before we can get the conversation about supplemental protection/safety measures. This kid, and his xbox, is probably the least of societies worries. He needs to be monitored, and i'd imagine his mental state isn't conducive to a normal way of life.

They've failed as parents. They are no good to either of the children. Yes, the child needs to be monitored, but by his parents? Nope.

"Other fail safes" is extremely vague. I say they should both be charged with the crime their son committed.

You know, rapists and other criminals also have parents.

Being a good parent could reduce the chances of having a rapist son but it won't eliminate them. Maybe parents are guilty in this specific case but I doubt the wisdom in assigning blame to parents for the crimes of their children.

Are we saying rapists are born rapists, now?

 

[Devolution]

Why does it have to be that the kid has mental issues or was abused?

Not all of us wants to rape someone after being exposed to porn, but that doesn't mean kids aren't curious about these things. Why can't it be a case of the kid not knowing any better and letting his curiosity get the best of him?

Now I'm not saying my theory makes this tragic news any better. I think people just ignore the fact that kids are easily influenced at that age. You're telling me you never had stupid thoughts when you were that age? It doesn't have to be sexual, but you could be curious about other things and do stupid shit. Some of it might be driven by peer pressure, or not knowing any better.

I think better communication on sex is in order. I see this as more of a case of poor education and being young and stupid.

His reasons for targeting her sound like a predator in the making.

To me the issue isn't the accessibility since people his age inevitably find porn, I know I did. The issue is education, consent and honest talks with parents. But parents don't want to do this and it pisses me off.