Toddler rapist faces life term

12 April 2012

The "stepfather" of Baby P is facing a life sentence after he was convicted of raping a two-year-old girl.

The 32-year-old was found guilty at the Old Bailey of attacking the girl - who was on the Haringey at-risk register - after she gave evidence at the court, the youngest person ever to do so.

The north London borough's social workers also failed to save Baby P - who can now be known as Peter - from a tortuous death at the hands of the man, Peter's 27-year-old mother and lodger Jason Owen, 36.

The girl's video recorded police interview was played as her evidence to the court and she was then cross-examined by lawyers over a video link.

The attack came to light after the man and Peter's mother were arrested for his death in August, 2007.

The woman denied a cruelty charge involving the girl and was found not guilty by jurors, who had no idea they were dealing with defendants in the Baby P case.

Judge Stephen Kramer told them the couple had been tried under false names to ensure they were not prejudiced by the previous trial.

He remanded the pair in custody for sentencing at the end of the month and warned they faced "substantial" prison terms.

The identities of the couple are protected for legal reasons. The two men were convicted of causing or allowing 17-month-old Peter's death following a trial last November.

The woman pleaded guilty to the offence, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years.

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