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Man charged with raping boy, 12

3:15am Saturday 17th May 2008

© Press Association 2008

A 44-year-old man will appear in court charged with raping a 12-year-old boy after allegedly tricking him into searching for his "lost" dog.

Craig Bennett, also known as Craig Preece, of no fixed address, is accused of two counts of raping a child, kidnap with intent to rape and making threats to kill, Lancashire Police said.

The youngster was subjected to a brutal sexual assault after a man promised him £10 to search for his pet near Blackburn, Lancashire.

He was lured to a nearby wooded area in Sudellside, Darwen, where he was raped on Wednesday night.

A police spokesman added that Bennett would appear before Blackburn Magistrates Court.

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