A teenager has appeared in court charged with rape and attempted murder of a 10-year-old girl.
She was sexually assaulted as she made her way home from school on Thursday and strangled then left in a brook in Exmouth, Devon, a court heard.
A 16-year-old boy dressed in a grey tracksuit spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared before magistrates this morning.
The court heard that the girl did not know the boy who allegedly approached her on Marley Road where the violent assault took place.
The short hearing was told that the girl was found in a distressed state lying in a brook.
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He was remanded in youth custody after a request from prosecutors and will appear before Plymouth Youth Court on Thursday.
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The boy cannot be named because of his age.
Police warned people against naming him on social media saying: Anyone who is alleged to be a victim of a sexual crime are automatically granted anonymity for life, regardless of their age and regardless of the outcome of any subsequent criminal trial.
Any suspect under the age of 18 is also by law not allowed to be identified.
These rules are not solely for media organisations to adhere to, they also apply to members of the public and includes information posted via social media.
This may be seen as interfering with a live investigation and an active criminal trial, and therefore could see those who do not adhere, found in contempt of court.
We therefore remind the public that it is vital they do not speculate on the identity of either the victim of the suspect in this case.
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