Mother says little boy with Down syndrome was raped inside locked classroom by a staff member: Police

**WARNING**: Graphic Content

A 13-year-old boy with Down’s syndrome was allegedly raped by a school staff member earlier this month, who reportedly locked the child inside a classroom and threatened him afterward.

Sowetan Live reports that the incident happened on August 5 at school in East Rand, South Africa. The boy’s mother told the outlet she learned of the incident after her son failed to show up to the area of the school she picks him up at in the afternoon.

“I was frantic when I didn’t find him where I usually pick him up,” the mother said.

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The mother eventually found her son inside a locked classroom. Prior to finding him, the man accused of raping the boy offered to help locate him, claiming the child could be sleeping in his class. At the time, the mother had no idea that the man had allegedly harmed her child.

“He offered to help us find him, saying that my son was probably asleep in one of the classrooms,” the mother added. “He went to one classroom and unlocked it. It was strange that my son came out immediately – not like someone who was asleep – but like someone who had been up and was waiting for the door to be opened. I didn’t pay much attention to it because I was happy to have found him.”

The woman said her boy looked as if he had been crying and acted upset, unlike his usual cheerful self.

“His eyes were red as if he was crying and when we stepped into the vehicle I noticed a smell emanating from him. As if he didn’t wipe himself properly after using the toilet.”

She said she later found blood and semen in the boy’s underwear. The following day, a doctor reportedly confirmed the boy had been raped, according to the outlet.

“I was shocked and horrified. I was on the floor when my senses returned to me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I asked my son what happened and he told me that the general worker had sexual intercourse with him. He said this was when I was looking for him and that he beat him and threatened to kill him if he responded to my calls.”

The mother said she contacted police and also contacted the school, but the principal didn’t suspend the worker. Instead, the suspect was reportedly told to stay in the garden area of the school and away from the classrooms while authorities continued the investigation.

“What more do the police need? We gave them a statement and they know exactly who needs to be arrested.”

Education spokesperson Steve Mabona claimed the mother was mistaken and that the district suspended the man and followed proper procedures while waiting for the investigation to complete.

So far, however, no arrests have been made.

Check back with CrimeOnline for further updates.

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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]