Rape victim says decision to spare her attackers from jail was like ‘rock in my face’

A judge’s decision not to jail two teenage boys who raped two girls has been described as a “serious stone” by one of the victims.

The hearing at Southampton Crown Court heard the girls were raped on two separate occasions in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, the first on 26 November 2024 and the second on 17 January 2025.

The boys, both aged 15, were given a youth rehabilitation order (YRO) and were subject to intensive supervision and supervision (ISS).

In an interview with the BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg One of the victims, who was 15 years old at the time of the incident, said, “What was the purpose of making me experience this?” he asked.

The 16-year-old, who spoke anonymously along with his family, said the judge’s decision “made it seem like what the kids did was almost not right, but in the eyes of the law it was okay because they were still kids.”

Prosecutor Jodie Mittel KC told the hearing that the girl visited one of the defendants in November 2024 after meeting him on Snapchat.

The prosecutor said that after performing a sexual act on the boy, who was 14 at the time, he became “frightened and worried” when the second defendant arrived, and the couple raped him while the incident was being filmed.

Ms. Mittel said videos of the incident later circulated, with others making jokes about her and messages calling her a “slut.”

In the incident in January, the 14-year-old complainant was raped in an area close to the Fordingbridge recreation area, and the incident was filmed.

At the sentencing hearing held on Thursday, a 15-year-old boy was sentenced to three years of YRO with 180 days of ISS for the rape of two girls and two charges of indecent images.

The court heard he was diagnosed with ADHD and “long-standing anxiety”.

A second 15-year-old boy was given the same sentence on three counts of rape against each of the two victims and four counts of indecent photography related to the filming of the events.

The court was told he had an IQ in the “bottom 1 per cent of his contemporaries” and was diagnosed with ADHD.

A third boy, aged 14, was given an 18-month YRO for two rape charges for inciting the second defendant and publishing indecent images in the January incident.

It was stated that he had “mild cognitive impairment”.

Judge Nicholas Rowland told the defendants: “I need to remember that you are not little adults. I need to think about how likely you are to do serious things again, and I need to make sure you don’t do serious things again in the future.”

Announcing his sentence, he said: “I must avoid unnecessarily criminalizing these children, understand the effects of their behavior and support their reintegration into society.”

He added that “peer pressure played a big role in what happened.”

During the BBC interview, the girl’s mother made an appeal to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, asking: “Would you be happy if it was your daughter, your niece, your son, your nephew, your family member?

“Because we’re not happy, and I don’t think any other member of society would be happy either. So you have the power to help, so please help.”

To talk BBC Breakfast on SundayHampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said: “What is truly worrying are the judge’s comments praising these three young men for their good behavior from charge to sentencing.

“But let’s not forget, these weren’t criminal charges. They were three men who put their victims through the trial and the ordeal of having to go through all of this again. That really added to the burden on the two survivors.”

Ms Jones acknowledged rehabilitation was “important” but added: “These are not low-level offences. These are some of the worst crimes you can inflict on another human being.”

“Police often describe rape as the worst crime you can survive… and victims will have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives.

“That’s why it’s appropriate for (offenders) to get that support in prison for the protection of others. They should be sent to young people who commit crimes.”

A Government spokesman said the attorney general’s office had received “multiple” requests for sentences to be reviewed under the Extreme Leniency Scheme.

He said: “We share the public’s shock at the details of this horrific case and our thoughts are with the young victims at this sad time.

“Law officials are examining the case with great care and attention.”