A 13-year old British boy told police he raped his eight-year old sister because of pornography he saw on his friend’s Xbox.
The teen, from Blackburn, England, pleaded guilty in court to indecently assaulting his sister and inciting her to perform a sexual act on him, the Lancashire Telegraph reports. He told police he had seen porn on Xbox and wanted to “try it out,” and selected his sister because she was younger and “couldn’t remember stuff.” He is free on bail and living with family while he awaits sentencing.
Detective Inspector Claire Holbrook called the incident “one of those tragic sexual experimentation cases” and said “the family is now being supported and the child is recovering well.”
The case has reignited debate over how easily children can access pornography and the detrimental effect of early exposure. Blackburn MP Jack Straw said the crime “underlines how porn is too readily available to juveniles,” the Telegraph reports.
“I hope that the Internet service providers recognize that they have greater responsibilities for controlling access to porn,” he added.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Charlotte Alter at charlotte.alter@time.com