227 people were charged with a total of 444 separate counts of serious sexual offences in 2017

227 people were charged with a total of 444 separate counts of serious sexual offences between January to December 2017.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions says 24 accused persons were under the age of 18 years.

The youngest accused person charged with rape was a 12-year-old boy.

The DPP’s Office says there were 300 cases of rape, 7 cases of attempted rape, 10 cases of assault with intent to rape, 6 cases of abduction with intent to rape, 17 cases of indecent assault, 23 cases of defilement and 81 cases of sexual assault.

There were 200 victims of the 444 separate sexual offences.

Of the 200 victims, 130 were under the age of 18 years.

All accused persons charged with sexual offences were male, however, victims of the sexual offences were both male and female comprising 184 female victims and 16 male victims.

There were 76 offences that occurred in domestic relationships or where the accused was known to the victims.

To date, the youngest victims of serious sexual offences are 1 year 10 months and 1 year 11 months old babies and the accused persons were the father and grandfather of the victims.