A 15-year-old boy has appeared before Oxford magistrates charged with the kidnap and rape of a six-year-old boy.

The youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is also alleged to have wounded the boy with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Magistrates heard yesterday that the offence is said to have happened on August 5.

It is alleged that the victim had been playing outside when he was lured away by the teenager and taken to woods behind Churchill Hospital, Headington, where he was sexually and physically assaulted.

The defendant, who was refused bail, was remanded into a secure unit until he reappears before court next Wednesday.