The Northern Echo reported that Judge Beatrice Bolton, sitting at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, criticised Sunderland City Council’s social services department.
She is reported to have said that the attack would not have taken place had the authority heeded the pleas of a consultant child psychiatrist.
The court heard that the nine-year-old victim was raped in June.
The attack came less than three months after Dr Stephen Westgarth wrote two letters to Sunderland Council’s social services department.
Dr Jan Van Wagtendonk, independent chair of the Sunderland Local Safeguarding Children Board, said a serious case review is underway in relation to the case.
Dr Helen Paterson, director of children’s services at Sunderland City Council, said: "Clearly these matters will be addressed through the serious case review process, which we are involved with as a key partner.
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