A 14-year-old who sexually assaulted a five-year-old girl will be sentenced in the new year.


The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was due to be sentenced on Tuesday but the court hearing had to be adjourned as a number of reports had not been completed.


District judge Wendy Lloyd refused to sentence the 14-year-old, claiming the information provided was ‘inadequate’ to sentence the defendant over what she said was a ‘very unpleasant violent sexual crime’.


District judge Lloyd said: “It is an enormous step to decide whether I give a 12-month referral order or two years in detention.”


An aim assessment was due to be carried out on the teenager to identify any risk of future serious harm to the public, but the court heard that the examination had not been completed.


She added: “I need to protect the public and I do not have enough information to make that decision.”


The incident happened in Warrington on Friday, July 12.