A teenager who raped a five-year-old boy days after being spared custody for a sex assault on another child, was jailed for almost three years yesterday.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attacked the child just eight days after escaping a custodial sentence for the rape of a seven-year-old boy, Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, heard.

In the original case Judge Adrian Smith heard the first victim’s family were committed Christians, had forgiven the boy and called for a “corrective” rather than punitive sentence.

But the community rehabilitation order handed down by the judge prompted a legal challenge from the Crown Prosecution Service that it was unduly lenient.

Days later the teenager, described by police as acting like a “sexual predator”, carried out the second attack.

It emerged yesterday that the defendant had already been through the courts accused of sex offences against a third child.

In 2006 the defendant, then aged just 13, had carried out a sex attack on a boy of six, inciting him to sexual activity.

He was acquitted of the offence in 2007 - but later admitted he had carried out the attack, the court heard.

Yesterday he was branded a danger to the public and jailed indefinitely with Judge Peter Lakin ordering he must serve almost three years before he can be considered for parole and that he will be released only when he is no longer considered a danger to the public.

Passing sentence, Judge Lakin said: “The offences you have committed are deeply disturbing and very serious.

“You are a devious and manipulative young man with an unhealthy and completely unacceptable sexual interest in young boys.

“It is likely you will not be released for some very considerable period of time.

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