A teenager convicted of raping a young boy has been detained under an interim hospital order.
Nicholas McMahon, 18, has severe mental health problems and was made the subject of the three-month order by Judge Plumstead at St Albans Crown Court today.
The teenager will stay at a mental health unit where he will be assessed by experts before he is due for sentence on January 16.
During the short hearing Judge Plumstead said he hoped McMahon would receive treatment which would prevent the commission of similar offences in the future.
McMahon, formerly of Fairfolds, Watford, was released to probation, to transfer him to the hospital.
It is expected that when McMahon returns for sentence the court will impose a lengthy hospital order under the mental health act.
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