Convicted rapist Luke Grender, left, was spared jail despite being found guilty of multiple attacks on a school girl because his sister was murdered while eight-and-a-half months pregnant in 2011.
Luke Grender, 18, was told he was being spared jail because of 'exceptional circumstances' of his family heartbreak.
Grender's sister, Nikitta was eight-and-a-half months pregnant when she and her unborn baby were murdered in 2011 by killer Carl Whant - who tried to cover his tracks by burning down her house.
Whant was jailed for a minimum of 35 years and was also found guilty of raping Nikitta.
And Newport Crown Court heard the impact of his sister's death 'twisted the thinking' of Grender.
Prosecutor John Lloyd said that Grender raped his victim - who was under the age of 13 - three times when he was 16 or 17.
Mr Lloyd said: 'The defendant began pestering her for sex. When she refused he threatened to drag her up the stairs.
'When she refused again he did, he took her by the hair and dragged her up the stairs. He pulled down her leggings and intercourse took place.'
Mr Lloyd said Grender raped the girl on another occasion after 'pinching and punching her'.
'She was fully clothed. The defendant pinched and punched her when she wouldn't agree. She then took off her clothes under pressure and sexual intercourse took place. Bruising on the hips and arms were visible following the incident.'
Comment: Intercourse? Let's call it what it is: Rape!
Luke Grender, pictured right, alongside his father Paul Brunnock and mother Marcia Grender at the end of the trial of his sister's killer in 2011 was today told his suspended sentence did not mean he 'got away with rape'.
'She said 'I want to go out with friends without looking over my shoulder. I want to look forward to the future'.'
James Tucker, defending, said: 'One of the contortions twisting the thinking of Luke is that he has ended up in some way blaming himself for being so close to his sister so soon before she was killed.
'There is no indication that outside of this case he has behaved inappropriately to a child. And he has shown respect to both women and girls.'
Comment: So Grender expresses his feelings regarding his sister's rape and murder by raping a 13-year-old. It is astounding that this could even be used as a defense. What are the 'contortions twisting the thinking' of the defense attorney and judge who handed out this sentence?
Grender cried in the dock as Judge Philip Richards told him he could be spared prison because the circumstances were 'quite exceptional by any standards.'
Judge Richards added: 'You must not think you are getting away with it. Your conduct towards this young girl was entirely unacceptable.
'It is likely she will have appalling reflections on this ordeal for the rest of her life.
Comment: Which will be compounded knowing that her attacker is walking free.
He added: 'You and your family have undergone more heartbreak than nearly any other family in the context of the work we undergo.
'I believe that the reality is that a sentence in the community will offer you more help and protect the public more quickly, than a short prison sentence - that you would struggle to cope with.'
Grender was given a two year suspended sentence. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20.
I want to make sure I get this right: His sister was raped, so therefore it makes him think that rape is okay, and the courts agree with that assessment? Next thing we see will be that some guy stabbed someone to death because a family member was stabbed to death, and that makes it okay.