Court appearance for Wellingborough boy, 15, charged with 22 sexual offences involving 10 girls
A 15-year-old Wellingborough boy, charged with 22 sexual offences involving 10 girls, has appeared at youth court today (Tuesday, July 21).
The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, has been charged with rape, sexual assault, possession of extreme pornography and child sex images.
Wearing skinny jeans and a T-shirt, sitting with a family member at Wellingborough Magistrates, the boy spoke to confirm his name and address.
All the charges relate to incidents between 2022 and 2025 when 10 girls were sexually assaulted.
District Judge Metha heard from prosecutor Nicola Smith who argued the teenager should be tried in Crown court due to it being a ‘grave matter’, the number of witnesses and victims.
She said: “That adds to the complexity and trial length.”
Judge Metha stated the charges fell ‘squarely within the grave crime’ category.
Defence counsel Christopher Johnston agreed with his counterpart.
He said: “It should be sent to Crown court.”
Sending the trial to Northampton Crown Court, Judge Metha explained to the defendant the process.
Allowed to stay seated during the 12-minute hearing, each time he was asked a question he responded saying ‘yes, your honour’ when addressed by the judge.
When permitted to leave, the boy said ‘thank you your honour’.
The charges he is facing are 12 counts of sexually assaulting a female, three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, one count of raping a girl under 13, one count of assaulting a female 13 and over by penetration, one count of raping a girl aged 13 to 15, two counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo photograph of a child, one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child, and one count of possessing extreme pornographic image/images portraying an act of intercourse/oral sex with a dead/alive animal.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The boy will appear at Northampton Crown Court Court on August 18.