Decision not to jail three UK boys for rape is unusual' and could be reviewed, says ex-attorney general

Two girls were raped in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, in November 2024 and January 2025. In the first incident, a 15-year-old was raped by two boys aged 14. In the second incident, three boys threatened a 14-year-old with a knife; two raped her while others encouraged and filmed the assaults. Two 15-year-old boys received three-year youth rehabilitation orders with intensive supervision and surveillance. A 14-year-old received an 18-month youth rehabilitation order. Dominic Grieve said judges may justify departures from sentencing guidelines for juveniles, and that people can ask the attorney general to review the matter. Charlotte Proudman warned non-custodial sentences may send the wrong message to victims and discourage reporting.

"I fully appreciate that. The decision by the judge was certainly unusual in view of the seriousness of the offence. But these were, at the same time, juveniles indeed, quite young. And, therefore, the judge can seek to justify his decision as to why to depart from the guidelines for sentencing. But people are perfectly entitled to ask the attorney general to review the matter."

"The goal of rehabilitating offenders particularly younger ones needed to be balanced with providing deterrence. The decision by the judge was certainly unusual in view of the seriousness of the offence. But these were, at the same time, juveniles indeed, quite young."

"Non-custodial sentences risked sending the wrong message to victims of sexual violence. The impact on other girls and women, listening to what these survivors have been through and the fact that it resulted in rapists receiving no prison time whatsoever, is likely to send out strong alarm bells and make them question why bother reporting."

Read at www.theguardian.com