A 12-YEAR-old boy has admitted raping a young girl during a drunken truth or dare game.

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, drank four cans of lager and downed two miniature bottles of vodka before the attack.

He claims he assaulted the girl as part of a truth or dare game with another boy.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the rape, which lasted less than a minute, took place in Gateshead on September 15, 2006.

He will spend the next three years under supervision, where he will receive treatment for his behaviour, after the court was told he has difficulty understanding the consequences of his behaviour.

Penny Moreland, prosecuting, said the child was arrested after the girl told her mother what had happened.

Ms Moreland said: "In interview, the defendant made full and frank admissions. He then said the girl had grassed him up."

Also, while being interviewed by police, the boy admitted engaging in other sexual activity, including the alleged rape of a four-year-old boy.

Social services and child psychologist reports said the boy presented a high risk of further offending on both sexes if not given proper treatment.

His barrister, Stuart Graham, said the boy had suffered from a troubled upbringing.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Cartlidge said it was a "most unusual case" and he could not find help from sentencing guidelines.

He concluded that the guidelines in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 did not prevent him from sending the boy for treatment, which all the experts who interviewed him agreed was necessary.

Explaining his decision to send the boy to a residential programme, the judge said: "Whilst the risk is not insignificant that he will harm individuals in the future, it becomes, in my opinion, a risk that is what the act describes as significant."