Boy, 15, pleads not guilty to 22 sexual offences; trial set for October 2027

Mixed · 2A 15-year-old boy pleaded not guilty at Northampton Crown Court on Friday 9 October 2026 to 22 sexual offences against eight girls. 1 2 Mixed · 2He cannot be named because of his age. The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2023 and 2025, and the alleged victims were aged between 10 and 15. 1 2 Mixed · 2He is charged with one count of rape, one of rape of a child under 13 and one of assault by penetration. He also faces 12 counts of sexual assault and three of sexually assaulting a child under 13. 1 2

Mixed · 2The remaining charges are two of making an indecent image of a child, one of possession of a prohibited image of a child and one of possession of an extreme pornographic image. One indecent image charge relates to alleged possession of three category C images of children. 1 2 Mixed · 2The court heard that some of the sexual assault allegations relate to touching the girls over and under clothing. The BBC adds that this included slapping one girl on the bottom. 1 2 Centre · 1The defendant sat at the back of the courtroom with his mother and responded to the charges from his seat rather than the dock. 1

Mixed · 2Judge Rebecca Crane told him his trial will begin on 25 October 2027 and is expected to last three to four weeks. 2 1 Mixed · 2He was granted conditional bail. He must not contact the alleged victims or witnesses, must not be alone with girls under 16 without supervision, and must work with the Youth Justice Service. 1 2