Statistics from the 44 police forces in England and Wales show that nearly 10 per cent of child sex attackers, including rapists, are allowed to walk free.

When the figures for those accused of child neglect or child cruelty are factored in, then more than 25 per cent of offenders who abuse children were let off with a caution.

The data shows that in the last financial year 5,192 people were charged and put before the courts for child sex offences but another 440 received a caution.

These included 25 people who admitted raping girls and eight who committed the same offence on underage boys.

A total of 75 were cautioned for sexually assaulting girls aged under 14, while 13 received he same “punishment” for molesting boys of a similar age.

The largest number of cautions was seven in  Lincolnshire, followed by five in Greater Manchester and four in Devon and Cornwall.