A twelve-year-old boy is to stand trial on charges of sexual assault, wounding and intentional strangulation following an incident in which a woman was discovered seriously injured at a Birmingham address, a court has heard.
The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court today having been charged last month. He faces allegations of wounding and sexual assault in connection with an incident at a woman’s home on 18 March this year, as well as a separate charge of intentional strangulation said to relate to a second incident in which a woman was confronted in the street.
The boy was not required to enter pleas during today’s brief hearing. Judge Simon Drew KC remanded him into secure accommodation and set a further hearing for 13 August, with the case provisionally listed for trial on 5 October. “The next hearing that I can definitely say will take place will be on the 13th of August and the case will be listed for trial on October 5th,” the judge said.
West Midlands Police said the woman was taken to hospital in a serious condition following the March incident, though no update on her current condition has been provided. Officers said their enquiries remain ongoing and acknowledged the concern the case had generated within the local community. A spokesperson said: “Our officers will be continuing to provide reassurance in the local area.”
Police are urging anyone with information about suspicious activity on or around 18 March to come forward via the Major Incident Public Portal or by calling 101, quoting log 4888 of 18 March.
