A SCHOOLBOY who subjected his younger sister to serious sexual assaults over a three year period showed no emotion as top judges refused pleas to free him yesterday.

The baby-faced 15-year-old repeatedly abused his sister between her tenth and 13th birthdays.

The boy, from Washington, Wearside, was sentenced to four years detention after admitting six counts of serious sexual assault at Newcastle Crown Court last October.

His lawyer, Donald MacFaul, argued the boy should be freed on licence as he was "too vulnerable" to cope with a young offenders' institution