iStockA teenager who raped an eight year-old girl and abused three young boys has been sentenced.
The 17-year-old – who cannot be named due to his age – was sentenced to a total of three-and-a-half years at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.
The crimes occurred in 2018 and 2019 at a house in North Lanarkshire.
Jurors heard how young victims were restrained by being tied up or chained.
The indictment stated he threatened to “kill and bury” the child he raped if she revealed what had happened.
The teenager – who denied the accusations – was previously convicted of rape and three charges of sexually assaulting the boys.
Judge Olga Pasportnikov told the 17-year-old: “These were offences against children much younger than you.
“They would have been left frightened and confused.
“You would have been aware that what you did was wrong.
“You were deliberately scaring two of the children by threatening to kill them.”
The judge added she believed the crimes were “enhanced opportunism” rather than “grooming” by the teenager.
She also said the total sentence was much lower than if the sex attacker had been convicted as an adult.
The teenager will also be supervised for a further two years on his release.
John Scott QC, defending, earlier said: “He maintains his position that he had at trial.”
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