Mother Claims Teen Acted Normally After Alleged Gang Rape Incident
A mother has testified in court that she observed "nothing unusual" when her son returned home after allegedly participating in the gang rape of a 13-year-old girl in Rochdale. The incident, which prosecutors say occurred in February 2024, involved three boys who were aged 12, 13, and 14 at the time. The boys, now aged 14, 15, and 16, have all denied the charges against them.
Details of the Alleged Attack Emerge in Court
According to evidence presented at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, the alleged rape took place just off a footpath in Rochdale. Prosecutors stated that the boys "took it in turns and swapped positions" during the assault. Part of the attack was reportedly filmed on a mobile phone and later "circulated amongst themselves" and others. The girl was described as being "physically pushed and bent over forward" during the incident.
Kim Whittlestone, the prosecuting lawyer, told jurors that the defendants "acted together" and that it "would have been obvious" the victim did not consent. She emphasized that the Crown's case asserts the 15 and 16-year-olds are guilty of rape and understood what consent meant, despite defence claims that the girl consented to some sexual activity.
Defendant Deemed Unfit for Trial Due to Health Conditions
One of the boys, now 14, has been determined unfit to stand trial. Sara Haque, defending this teenager, explained that he is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a learning difficulty with ASD traits. Expert evidence from both prosecution and defence led to this conclusion. Haque detailed that the boy's mother saw him shadowboxing and talking normally when he arrived home around 6pm on the day of the incident, and he asked to sleep over at a family member's house of one of the other boys.
The mother reportedly described her son's behavior as unremarkable, stating there was "nothing unusual" about his demeanor. This testimony forms part of the agreed facts in the case, though the boy remains implicated in the allegations.
Legal Proceedings and Charges Explained
The trial involves two of the teens, now aged 15 and 16, who are facing charges at Minshull Street Crown Court. The indictment contains five counts of rape:
- Three counts relate specifically to each individual boy.
- Two counts are charged under "joint enterprise" principles.
Prosecutors allege that all three boys were active participants, with the now 14-year-old accused of encouraging the act without the girl's consent. The court heard that a friend of the girl intervened to stop the attack, after which the 15 and 16-year-olds fled the scene on foot. Each defendant has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the trial continues as jurors deliberate the evidence.
