Weekly News

Boy, 11, is one of Britain's youngest rapists after being caught attacking nine-year-old boy when victim's mother heard them on baby monitor

·   Mother of one victim heard suspicious whispering on her baby monitor

•   Boy also attacked boy, 7, and twice sexually assaulted disabled boy, 11

•   He admitted assaults and is now Britain’s youngest male-on-male rapist

•   Defendant was himself the victim of sex abuse, court in Blackpool hears

I found this News story on the main page of the Daily Mail. It talks about an 11-year-old boy who has become Britain’s youngest male-on-male rapist after he admitted attacking a nine-year-old boy 15 times.

The child from Blackpool, Lancashire, was only caught when the victim’s mother heard suspicious whispering on the baby monitor in her son’s bedroom.

The boy, who is now 12, also sexually assaulted a seven-year-old boy and then twice sexually assaulted an 11-year-old disabled boy while on bail for the rapes.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to one charge of raping the same boy 15 times and three charges of sexual touching.

He stood in a secure dock alongside a security officer. The defendant’s dark hair was neatly cut and he worse a smart dark jacket with a shirt and tie.

He was committed in youth custody to appear for sentence at Preston Crown Court by District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Kerry Grieve, prosecuting, said the offences took place between April last year and last month in the seaside town.

On May 29 this year the defendant was playing with a nine-year-old boy in his bedroom when his mother heard whispering over the baby monitor.

She walked into the bedroom to find the defendant raping her son on the bedroom floor. The defendant told her: ‘I am sorry, I don’t know why I did it.’

The victim was interviewed by specialist police officers and told them that the defendant raped him almost every day they played together.

The defendant also told him to keep what was happening a secret.

Brett Chappell, defending, described the case as tragic for everyone and said the defendant had been the victim of sex abuse himself some years ago.

Mr Chappell said the boy had pleaded guilty immediately and shown a sense of shame and remorse.

He added that the defendant recognised he needed help for his problems and would work towards addressing them.

The Great British Bake Off

Season 7, Episode 1

"Cake Week"

In our media lessons we have recently been watching the British baking show 'The Great British Bake Off' hosted my Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, Mel and Sue. 

In the first episode of season 7 "cake week', we are first of all presented with the new 12 contestants who will be taking part in the shows new season. Straight away we can see how the BBC was trying to show equality within its productions, as there is a mix of people from different ethnic groups such as; 9 white contestant, 2 black contestants and 1 Asia contestant. In addition to this, there is also an equal gender split of 6 males and 6 females. This has been also done in order to attract a wider audience, from a variety of ethic groups. Even though BBC has done this and so shown diversity within the GBBO, the fact that the judges and presenters are all white, implies the still existing imbalance.  

Furthermore, in the show there is a constant reference to Britain. The setting, such as the British flags being shown hanging around, does this, as well as, the repeated clips of pheasant walking on the field. Additionally, the idea that the whole setting is well kept, with freshly cut grass and flowers around connotes that Britain in a posh and well respected country.


The target audience for this show would be females ages 20-40. This is because, females are stereotypically related and said to be interested in baking and therefore, they would be interested in the concept of the show. Moreover, in the episodes there is a number of references to mature / page 3 jokes which, an audience of this age will be able to catch and understand and so, shows that a younger audience have not be targeted in particular.

Canterbury Cathedral and Lakeside to get armed police patrols

        

I was able to find this story on the BBC News web page. It is written regarding the topic of how police armed with guns are to patrol routinely in Kent, in locations including Canterbury Cathedral, Dover port and the Bluewater shopping centre.

The move follows recent terrorist attacks in Europe, but is not in response to specific intelligence.

The armed presence is intended as a deterrent and to allow an immediate response in an emergency, police said.

The Kent force's approach has been criticised as being likely to worry people rather than reassure them.

The force shares a joint taskforce with Essex Police and armed patrols will also be instigated at London Southend Airport and the Lakeside shopping centre.

The move comes amid high national threat levels and Kent Deputy Chief Constable Paul Brandon said it would enable police to react quickly if necessary.

"Tragically, what we have seen in France and other areas that it's in the first hour that there is large numbers of casualties," he said.

But Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, said there were better ways to police the county.

"I have been to Belgium recently where there are armed police everywhere, but when you talk to Belgians they are far more scared than previously.

"I would rather Kent Police had a more low-key approach. The real deterrent is always behind-the-scenes, intelligence-led policing."

Mr Brandon, who has described the terror threat facing the

Kent Police has not said how many armed officers it will deploy but the government announced in April there would be an extra 1,500 across England and Wales and the Metropolitan Police has said the number of armed officers will go up in London by 600 to 2,800.

Kent Police Federation said the deployment was an unprecedented increase for the county.