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<\/p>\nA SCHOOLBOY who raped and strangled four children in a month-long violent rampage can today be unmasked – as he turns 18.<\/p>\n
Predator Egan Ritchie was just 15 when he carried out his despicable crimes in 2019 – but his identity was cloaked due to his age.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One of the beast's survivor\u2019s was throttled so hard she blacked out and thought she was going to die at his hands.<\/p>\n
He denied his crimes but was convicted after a trial late last year – but remained anonymous due to his age.<\/p>\n
Only after he forced the four traumatised teens to give evidence did Ritchie casually admit he\u2019d carried out the abuse.<\/p>\n
Cops described him as a "dangerous predator" while a judge called his actions "disturbing and grave".<\/p>\n
Ritchie, of Ayrshire in south-west Scotland, was found guilty of nine offences including assault, rape and threatening behaviour and detained for seven years.<\/p>\n
A court heard he attacked the four girls at locations near his home.<\/p>\n
Lord Arthurson said: \u201cIn the case of three of the girls you throttled them using both hands forcefully around their necks.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne lost consciousness and thought she was going to die. You threatened to kill three of the girls.\u201d<\/p>\n
The judge said he had read a victim impact statement provided by one girl and said the effects of the youth\u2019s actions on her continued to have \u201ca serious detrimental impact on her life\u201d.<\/p>\n
Defence counsel Tim Niven-Smith said the youth accepted the findings of the jury at his trial and now admitted to the behaviour.<\/p>\n
Detective Inspector Martin Prendergast said: \u201cThis teenager is a dangerous and predatory individual who has shown no remorse towards the victims, all of whom were children.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe played on their vulnerabilities and his actions will no doubt have lasting effects on them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese were horrific crimes for someone of such a young age to commit and we welcome his conviction.\u201d<\/p>\n