Five years minimum for Edlington torture boys

The young attackers were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court this morning after a court heard how they frog-marched their victims to Edlington’s remote Brick Ponds area before subjecting them to the sadistic attack.

They were both given indeterminate sentences and told that they would serve at least five years.

Mr Justice Keith said: “This was a prolonged sadistic attack for no reason other than to get a kick out of it.

“There was a toxic environment at home and an atmosphere of violence.”

The two brothers attacked their nine and 11-year-old victims with sticks and branches, a metal noose, lit cigarettes, a boulder weighing 28lb and broken bottles during the ordeal last April.

They stripped them, forced them to perform sex acts on each other and told them they were going to die.

It only ended when they left the scene and the younger of the two victims managed to stagger into nearby Edlington for help.

One of the boys was left close to death and the other seriously injured and deeply traumatised.

The brothers later admitted robbery, grievous bodily harm with intent and sexual offences.

Det Supt Mick Mason said after the sentencing: "This was an extremely violent and unprovoked attack on innocent boys who were left with both physical and psychological injuries.

“Thankfully, such instances are very rare but when they do occur, they have a devastating effect on the families and community.

“The police investigation has been thorough and has placed all available evidence before the court. The sentence imposed today reflects the gravity of these crimes.

“The families of the boys have assisted the police investigation throughout and I would like to thank them for this.

“In addition, I would like to thank the community of Edlington who have given every possible assistance to the families and police.

“Without their help on the day, in searching for one of the victims, this could clearly have had a more tragic conclusion.

“Thankfully this did not happen and the boys are making a good recovery. “Hopefully the families and the community of Edlington can move on and put this episode behind them.”