Child sex attackers 'avoiding jail'

Ministry of Justice statistics showed two paedophiles were given suspended sentences for sex attacks on children under 13.

Four other dangerous sex attackers were given community sentences.

That means one in 12 of all child rapists over 21 was not given an immediate custodial sentence that year.

The figures were released to shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve in written Parliamentary answers. He said dangerous offenders were "cheating justice" because the prisons are full.

"It is hard to think of any circumstances in which an adult who rapes a young child should avoid jail," he said. "Labour have pressurised judges to use community sentences inappropriately because the prisons are full, but the result is that dangerous offenders cheat justice and children are put at risk."

The figures, for 2007, show that of 69 convicted rapists 63 were jailed immediately.

The maximum jail term for anyone found guilty of rape or attempted rape is life imprisonment.

Sentencing guidelines suggest attackers who are older than their victims should receive a substantial prison term.

A non-custodial sentence should only be given out in "exceptional" cases if the offender is a youth, they say. But in all these cases offenders were aged over 21 and their victims under 13.