Gisèle Pelicot says she is ‘deeply shocked’ by decision not to jail boys in Hampshire rape case

Rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot said it was “deep shock” that three teenage boys who raped two teenage girls in Hampshire were spared a prison sentence.

A 73-year-old French woman testified against her husband, Dominique Pelicot, who repeatedly drugged her and invited dozens of men to rape her, in a case that shocked both France and the world.

Ms Pelicot, who declined to give her name, “saluted the strength” of one of the girls who spoke out after the attack.

The victims, then aged 15 and 14, were raped by two 15-year-olds on two separate occasions in Fordingbridge, Hampshire; A third 14-year-old boy was accused of encouraging one of the other defendants.

Three teenage boys were given youth rehabilitation orders after the judge said he wanted to avoid “criminalising” “very young” boys.

One of the victims told the BBC program with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: “The words hit me like a stone in the face.

“He (the judge) almost made it seem like what the kids did wasn’t right, but it was okay in the eyes of the law because they were still kids.”

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Pelicot said she was “deeply shocked that these individuals were actually able to regain their freedom while the victims suffered so much that they may never recover”.

He added that he hopes his own story “will help him make that decision.”

“I really applaud her strength and the decision she made because I know it was an incredibly difficult decision,” he said.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was “right” that the sentences were urgently reviewed and described it as a “terrible case”.

Posting about X following the victim’s BBC interview, the Prime Minister said: “This is a heartbreaking and brave statement.

“The girls at the center of this case have shown extraordinary courage and strength under disgusting circumstances.

“This is a terrible case and it is right that legal officers review the sentences urgently.”

The Prime Minister’s chief secretary told the BBC: “These girls, like their families, deserve justice for themselves and the other girls who have been put in this situation.

“And frankly, other kids need to know that they can’t act that way and get away with it.”

He suggested the review of sentences imposed by the Attorney General under the overly lenient scheme would be completed quickly, adding: “We all want to address this matter urgently and the Attorney General has made that commitment.”

Attorney-General Lord Richard Hermer has 28 days from the date of the sentencing hearing until June 18 to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, but Mr Jones said he would make a quicker decision.

Prosecutor Jodie Mittel KC told the hearing that one of the girls, who was 15 at the time, visited one of the defendants in November 2024 after meeting her 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 subsequently circulated, others made jokes about the girl, and she received messages calling her a “slut.”

The girl told the BBC she “wanted to die” when she received such messages.

The second complainant was 14 when she was raped in an area close to Fordingbridge recreation area in January 2025, and the incident was also filmed.

Labor MP Anna Turley said she was “shocked” by the sentences and that it was “absolutely right” that they should be referred to the Attorney General.

“I’m not going to hinder his decision or make any judgments about it, but I think anyone who watches this and sees the evidence and hears the horrific story of the victims will be absolutely devastated,” he said.

“It’s really shocking, and I think you know, it’s terrible in the first place that these young women are going through this experience, but they’ve been so brave in coming into the justice system to retell their stories and go through this process.

“It is vital that the system works for these victims, supports them, ultimately provides them with the justice they deserve, and that they feel they have some form of justice for what happened to them.”