A 12-year-old boy abducted a toddler in Folkestone and then subjected him to a terrifying sex ordeal.

But because of his age – he has now turned 13 – he cannot be identified – and will not be held in a secure unit.

Judge Heather Norton told the victim’s family – who sat in the public gallery for the hearing – there were only two “stark” sentencing options open to her.

“The family must have sat here thinking: ‘Why is it all about (the attacker’s) needs? What he requires. When is somebody going to talk about our little boy and the effect it has had on him and the nightmares he now has?’

She added: “I understand that but the law requires me to do that because he was 12 at the time. Ultimately, the sentence will have to be a sentence which is the best to reduce the risk that he might bring to others or indeed himself.”

The teenager admitted kidnapping the child and sexually assaulting him in the town last year.

Under strict sentencing rules he could only be given either detention or a Youth Rehabilitation Order.

The judge told him: “These are very serious offences and if you were a grown up you would be going to prison for a very, very long time.

“You took away a very young child from those who were caring for him and took him into a toilet block where you assaulted him.

“It is clear (the victim) wanted to leave and you did not allow him to do so. He had some bruising on his arms, presumably where you were holding him to keep him.

“I can only begin to imagine the fear that that little boy’s mother must have had when he could not be found.

“And I cannot begin to imagine the fear, the anxiety, the anger, the misplaced guilt on discovering what had happened to him...and what could have happened.”

The teenager was given a two year Youth Rehabilitation Order and ordered to remain indoors from between 7 pm to 7 am for the next six months.

Judge Norton also made a Restraining Order and banned him from going to Folkestone or going unaccompanied to parks for the next two and a half years.

After the teenager had left Canterbury Crown Court, the judge spoke directly to the victim’s family telling them: “I hope you understand that my powers are limited and he is now at a specialist unit well out of the area.

“But that should not be taken in no way shape or form that this was anything other than they were the most serious of offences and as I said, I cannot imagine just how terrifying it must have been for you to have lived through this.

“I hope that you and your child are on the road to recovery.”