Three teenage boys convicted of raping two girls and initially spared jail are set to have their sentences reevaluated by the Court of Appeal in July. The incident took place in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, where two 15-year-olds received non-custodial sentences for the assaults. The judge at Southampton Crown Court opted for leniency to prevent unnecessary criminalization of the boys.
Another 14-year-old boy was also involved in the attacks and faced charges related to indecent images. Following the announcement by Sir Keir Starmer, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal due to concerns over the leniency of the sentences. Senior judges will review the case in a two-day hearing starting on July 1.
The Attorney General, Lord Hermer, highlighted the prevalence of violence against women and girls in the country and commended the bravery of the victims for coming forward. The defendants, aged 15 and 14 at the time of the assaults, were handed youth rehabilitation orders with intensive supervision and surveillance for the rapes and related offenses.
While acknowledging that the offenses crossed the custody threshold, Judge Nicholas Rowland emphasized the importance of considering the age and developmental stages of the offenders. Despite the boys being assessed as medium risk for reoffending, their backgrounds, including ADHD diagnoses and cognitive impairments, were taken into account.
The judge stressed that custody should be a last resort for youth offenders, with a focus on preventing further criminal behavior and ensuring the welfare of the children involved. The hearing will provide an opportunity to reassess the sentences in light of these considerations.