A child psychiatrist told the court that the younger of the two brothers who carried out the Edlington attack was in danger of turning into a psychopath.
Dr Eileen Vizard said that the boy was a danger to people of all ages and both sexes. Her assessment followed two lengthy interviews with the boy and a detailed of examination of his past record.
She said that there was a risk of him carrying out serious violence, sexual assaults and sadistic attacks.
He had roamed his local community in the past, targeting much younger children, aged two or three, children of his own age, older children and even adults, she said.
“It is my view that without immediate, effective intervention, he is at great risk of developing an anti-social personality disorder when he becomes older,” Dr Vizard said.
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The boy displayed callous, unemotional traits which were key indicators of psychopathy, she said. He had hardly any empathy for his victims, showed no remorse and had little insight into why he behaved as he did.
“He will go on inflicting harm until someone stops him. He will require safe custody for a long period of time where he can hopefully be given very specialist forensic help for his problems.”