Youth admits raping pensioner

A west Belfast youth who admitted raping an elderly neighbour in her bedroom was sent to a young offenders' centre for seven years yesterday. The Crown Court heard the defendant, who was 16 at the time, had taken ecstasy and alcohol before carrying out the attack on the 69-year-old woman in April last year. The boy, now 17, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, pleaded guilty to charges of rape and assault causing actual bodily harm.