Seriously, it strikes me that either a child should be regarded as unable to understand sexuality when doing something as well as having something done to them or they should be educated early and given the moral compass to understand ramifications for later life.

Society cannot have it both ways.

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3285383.ece

Interesting that he's only placed on the sex offenders register for two years but he's banned from working with children for the rest of his life. This case seems to highlight contradictions and confusion within the system. If he's considered to be guilty of rape, and to be a risk to children in the future, then it must have been decided that he has an understanding of his actions. If so, then the rules must surely require lifetime inclusion on the register. He's been found guilty of raping someone in his own age group, therefore it could be assumed that, as he grows, his attractions will remain within his own age group, which doesn't add up to him being a continued threat to children once he's an adult. They consider him a threat to children for the rest of his life, yet only place him on the register for two years?

If he's too young to understand his actions and their consequences, then surely he is not guilty by reason of that incapacity. There would be no 'mens rea'. That would also suggest that his was a childish impulse which, like all other childish impulses, he will grow out of.

It's all a bit strange.

All your comments click with me Cat.

And your general point - it's all a muddle; none of it thought through.

I think that's my main point - as society we need to go back to scratch and decide the basics.

Is sex wrong? Clearly NO.
In which case, is it "taking advantage", abusing - wrong? Answer YES - whatever age you are.
So children need to be taught not to do that. Whether it is killing or robbing or having sex without the partner's consent.
And if that is taught from early ages, surely the amount of breaches will be lowered.

That, not punishment without thinking, is badly needed.

A child of 11 is old enough to know that abusing a child of 7 is wrong. It is not a normal childhood instinct it is cleary coming from a very disturbed mind who poses a danger to children.

The laws are so ridiculous in this country that children under 16 can virtually get away with anything and they take advantage of this because the police are powerless to stop them