The parents of a five-year-old boy who was allegedly raped by a 13-year-old in Irvine have made a plea for justice. 

Last May we reported that the case had been referred to the Children’s Reporter rather than going through court.

Now the boy’s parents have spoken out after a petition was launched calling for something to be done. 

Speaking to the Times, they explained how they have felt let down, how their son suffers daily and asked why the case has never reached a court. 

The boy’s dad said: “The police done their jobs, CID done their jobs, they gathered all the evidence, got the DNA, got the full confession but as soon as it went to the Fiscal they basically shut the door on it. We don’t really have anywhere else to turn so why don’t we support something like this [the petition].”

They are now calling for the law to be changed so that other people don’t have to go through what they have.

The petition, which is asking Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf to prosecute the 13-year-old alleged perpetrator, gathered over 1,500 signatures in just three days.

His mum said: “We want the law to be changed. This happened to our five-year-old son, there’s people getting away with this every single day.

“It is happening too much. It doesn’t hit home until you start hearing about these sorts of stories on a daily basis and you start realising it is happening all the time. 

“Rape is rape, age isn’t a factor. He knew he was wrong, he knew what he was doing was wrong. He admitted it, the DNA was there.”

The couple explained the lasting impact on their son.

They revealed: “He has night terrors. They started a few days a week after it happened and it has been pretty constant.

“It is anything from two to five times a week and he is so nervous. He won’t sleep a full night in his bed. His schoolwork has been affected because of it as well.

“Initially I said to myself ‘he’s young enough, he’ll not remember this’ but then you start to realise that it is such a traumatic experience. It will probably grow up with him. We need to get justice, whatever it takes.”

A spokesman from the Crown Office said: “After careful consideration of the circumstances, the procurator fiscal decided the case should be referred to the Children’s Reporter. 

“This decision has been explained to the family.”

The petition can be found online at Change.org