Illkey youth in court over attempted murder of girl, 12

The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was charged over the attack last week and today appeared in custody before a judge at Bradford Crown Court for a preliminary hearing.

The girl, who also cannot be named, was allegedly assaulted in the Ben Rhydding area on the morning of Sunday April 21.

During a brief hearing before Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC the boy?s barrister Nick Johnson said his client was going to be assessed by a psychiatrist before his next hearing at the court on July 5.

At that plea and case management hearing the teenager is expected to be asked to enter either a not guilty or guilty plea to the attempted murder charge.

The boy also faces further allegations of committing an offence with the intention of committing a sexual offence and possessing an offensive weapon.

Judge Durham Hall, who fixed a provisional trial date for September 16, was told that the boy was currently remanded into the care of the local authority and there was no application for bail made on his behalf.