Sentencing of teenage boys spared jail in rape case sent to Court of Appeal
It will decide if their sentences are unduly lenient
The sentences of three teenage boys who were spared jail for rape are being sent to the Court of Appeal after a review under the unduly lenient scheme.
Attorney General Lord Hermer said there was “an epidemic of violence against women and girls in this country” after Sir Keir Starmer announced the “distressing” case would be referred following a public outcry.
Two girls were raped in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, by two 15-year-olds who were given non-custodial sentences by a judge at Southampton Crown Court, who said he wanted to “avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily”.
Asked about the outcome of the sentencing of those two boys, the Prime Minister said on Tuesday that Lord Richard Hermer had examined the case and was referring it to the Court of Appeal for review.
“I think it’s distressing for everybody to see, to hear about,” he told reporters during a visit to East Sussex, adding that he had found it “distressing as a politician” and “as a father”.
“There are questions about the sentence. The Attorney General has power to refer a case to the Court of Appeal if the Attorney General thinks that the sentence is too lenient.
“The Attorney General has now exercised that power. So, I can announce that that case will now go to the Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeal will now review the sentence in that case, and that is clearly the right outcome.”
At a hearing on Thursday, one of the 15-year-old boys was handed a three-year youth rehabilitation order (YRO) with 180 days of intensive supervision and surveillance (ISS) for the rape of each of the two girls, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time of the offences, and two indecent images charges.
The second 15-year-old was given the same sentence for three charges of rape against each of the two victims and four counts of taking indecent images in relation to filming of the incidents.
Both boys were aged 14 at the time.
A third boy, who is 14 and was 13 at the time, was given a YRO for 18 months for two charges of rape in the second incident by encouraging the second defendant and an offence of indecent images.
Lord Hermer’s office confirmed that the sentence of the younger boy was also being sent to the Court of Appeal.
One of the victims, now 16, said of the boys’ sentence: “The words hit like a rock straight in my face.”
Prosecutors said the girl was raped by two boys while the incident was filmed before videos were sent around and other people made jokes about her.
Judge Nicholas Rowland told the defendants: “I have to remember that you are not small adults.
“I have to think how likely you are to do serious things again and I need to make sure you do not do serious things again in the future.”
Explaining his sentence, he said: “I should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily and understand the effects of their behaviour and support their reintegration into society.”
He added that “peer pressure played a large part in what went on”.
Lord Hermer said on Tuesday: “There has understandably been a huge amount of public interest, and concern, at this horrific case.
“I directed my officials to work urgently, to allow me to consider this decision swiftly, and to begin to bring closure to the victims and their families.
“It is clear to me from their powerful personal statements, that these girls have displayed immense bravery in coming forward.”
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones welcomed the referral, describing the YROs for such “despicable” offences as “clearly unduly lenient”.
“It is absolutely right these sentences are reviewed,” she said.
“I want to place on record my thanks to the two victims and their families for speaking out to kickstart this vital process.
“I will do everything I can to continue to support them.”