Doncaster torture brother: 'I am the opposite of that person who did the crimes'

In a statement to the judge who granted them anonymity one of two brothers from Doncaster convicted of a sadistic attack on two boys says he is the 'opposite of the person who did the crimes' and hopes to go to university, it emerged today.
The 'sadistic' attack was carried out on two young boys from EdlingtonThe 'sadistic' attack was carried out on two young boys from Edlington
The 'sadistic' attack was carried out on two young boys from Edlington

The man, who turned 18 earlier this month, told judge Sir Geoffrey Vos that he felt he 'fully acknowledged' the 'extreme gravity of his offences'.

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The senior high court judge was told that the man's older brother, now 19, was "equally committed to the path of rehabilitation".

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Sir Geoffrey said: "He fully acknowledged the extreme gravity of his offences, and said compellingly that he now feels inside like a completely different person," said the judge in his ruling.

"He said that, '(it) has taken a long time to get there and I have done loads of work with professionals in secure to work through what I did and why I did it.

" 'I now feel like I have become the opposite to that person who did the crimes.

" 'I desperately want to carry on being the person I have become.

" 'I want to get a job or may be even go to uni'."

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Sir Geoffrey added: "The other evidence before me suggests that (his) ambitions may be genuinely capable of realisation."

He went on: "I have no doubt that (the older brother) is equally committed to the path of rehabilitation."

Detail of the brothers' hopes and ambitions emerged on this afternoon .

Sir Geoffrey had made orders barring journalists from revealing the brothers' identities earlier this month at a High Court hearing in London.

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He has now published a written ruling explaining his reasoning for making those orders.

Evidence relating to the brothers' states of minds featured in the ruling.

The brothers were 10 and 11 when they took part in the attack in Edlington, Doncaster.

Their victims were nine and 11.

Both were given custodial terms after admitting causing grievous bodily harm.

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The judge who sentenced them described the attack as 'sadistic violence'.

They have now been given new identities and are no longer in custody.

Sir Geoffrey said he was satisfied that the anonymity order was in the public interest.

He said neither the brothers' original names nor their new identities could be revealed in media reports of the case.

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A barrister representing the brothers had asked the judge to grant anonymity.

Phillippa Kaufmann QC was instructed by staff from the Official Solicitor's office, which helps vulnerable people involved in court cases.

She said evidence showed that there was a ''real possibility'' that the brothers would be attacked by vigilantes if their names became known.

The application had been made as the younger brother approached his 18th birthday.

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It was not formally opposed by any media organisation - although a reporter covering the hearing had argued that journalists should be allowed to reveal the brothers' original names.

Another judge had already granted the pair anonymity until they were 18.