A boy of 11 has admitted raping a six-year-old girl near his home in North Wales, according to newspaper reports.
The child – who cannot be named for legal reasons - appeared at Llandudno Magistrates Court, and admitted three charges of sexual assault by touching, and one of common assault on the little girl.
He had previously denied the charges when he appeared at Caernarfon Magistrates Court last week.
His defence team had initially cited 'medical issues' which may have explained his behaviour, but at yesterday's hearing District Judge Andrew Shaw was told of the change of plea.
The boy's solicitor, Nicola Jones, told the court she had spoken at length with the family and had advised them of the consequences of pleading guilty to all the charges.
The boy attended court with his grandmother and father, who held him close throughout the 10-minute hearing.
The judge adjourned sentencing for the preparation of reports, saying it was an 'extremely difficult case'.
At a previous hearing, Caernarfon Magistrates Court heard that that the boy had asked the young girl to accompany him to a local pond to look at some fish last August. At the pond he is said to have asked her to perform a sex act on him, which forms the basis of the rape charge.
He is also alleged to have pushed her, resulting in her falling in the shallow pond. The girl told her mother what had happened after she returned home covered in mud and soaking wet.
The boy has been granted conditional bail until the next hearing.