by Keith Hunt

khunt@thekmgroup.co.uk

A teenager who sexually abused a young girl and also committed a burglary has been handed 23 months youth custody.

Leigh Collins originally admitted raping the victim but his plea was changed to sexual activity with a girl.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victim, aged 12, was at a house in Sittingbourne in March with friends and ended up alone with Collins.

Abigail Husbands, prosecuting, said they began kissing and Collins, 19, then forced her to engage in sexual activity.

Miss Husbands said the girl was later crying and hysterical. She went back to school but left again.

Collins, formerly of Westlands Avenue, Sittingbourne, now of no fixed address, was arrested two days later.

The burglary was committed a day after the sex offence.

Collins walked into the home of an elderly woman in Minterne Avenue, Sittingbourne, and said he was a friend of her grandson.

Miss Husbands said Collins gave a false name and told the 80-year-old victim he was just collecting some property for the grandson.

He then went around the house taking electrical items, including games consuls, games and a television.

Shona Ritchie, defending, said Collins suffered from ADHD. He had a history of self-harm and overdosing on drugs.

Collins had also been the victim of a kidnap and assault and had spent more than nine months on remand.

“Further time in custody is unlikely to be any benefit to him, only detriment,” said Miss Ritchie.

Judge Jeremy Carey said the sexual offence had a significant effect on the victim.

The burglary was also “particularly unattractive”. It was carried out with considerable coolness.

The judge said he recognised Collins had considerable mental health difficulties.

He was sentenced to 12 months for the sex offence, eight months for the burglary and three months for breach of a community order, all consecutive.

“You will be released relatively soon,” said Judge Carey. “You will need support and you should take it.”