A YORK boy aged 13 has become one of the youngest people in the country to go on the sex offenders' register.

He is today awaiting sentence for indecently assaulting a babysitter at the family home. The girl victim was 13, York Youth Court heard.

The boy's solicitor, Craig Sutcliffe, said there were "extreme mitigating circumstances".

After the boy from west York admitted the offence, youth justices ordered his mother to ensure he registers with the police within 14 days.

Karen Smoult-Hawtree, prosecuting, said the girl was staying overnight at the boy's home because she was babysitting.

When she was asleep on a bunk, the boy approached, lifted up her clothes and looked underneath. But the girl then slapped him and he left straight away.

Justices adjourned the case so the youth offending team can prepare a pre-sentence report considering all possible sentences. The length of time the boy must stay on the register will be decided when he returns to court for sentence. The boy was allowed bail.

Updated: 11:01 Wednesday, July 04, 2001