A 13-YEAR-OLD boy has been put on the Sex Offenders Register after admitting he sexually abused two five year-old boys.

The youngster, from the Crewe area, escaped a custodial sentence after a judge at Chester Crown Court yesterday ruled it was not be in the boy's best interests.

He was placed under a three-year supervision order and put on the register for two and a half years.

The court heard that the boy's 15-year-old co-defendant will be sentenced in the New Year. Both teenagers confessed to indecently assaulting the small children between May 2000 and April of this year.

Judge Elgan Edwards, Honorary Recorder of Chester, said: 'What this boy did was very bad indeed. This goes beyond naughty behaviour, it is criminal behaviour.

'But I do not believe it is in the boy's best interest or society's best interests to send him to custody.'

Judge Edwards also rejected an application by The Chronicle for permission to name the teenager in spite of his age.

'Ordinarily, after an offence like this, I would allow the Press to identify the defendant. But I believe the notoriety or fame he will receive if his identity is publicised would do him no good at all.'

Ian Unsworth, defending, told the court that the boy's family is living in constant fear of reprisals.

He said: 'The police are aware that emotions are running high and the family is vulnerable. They are being forced to consider moving away from an area where they have lived all their lives.

'The boy's education has been severely disrupted. He has considerable learning difficulties,' he added.

Michael Chambers, prosecuting, said the offences took place after the older boys befriended the small children.

He said: 'After becoming friendly with the children they became known by the families, and the offences came to light when one of the little boys told his mother what was happening to him.'

Both defendants were arrested and interviewed in May this year. Mr Unsworth said: 'My client had the courage to admit what he had done.'

Gordon Sharpe, the author of the boy's pre-sentence report, said: 'He accepts that it was wrong. 'He is very young for his age and would be extremely vulnerable in custody.'