Court of appeal to review rape sentences of three teenage boys

Three teenage boys received youth rehabilitation orders for raping two girls in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, in November 2024 and January 2025. The boys were aged 14 and 15 at sentencing, and the judge chose non-custodial measures to avoid unnecessary criminalisation and to support reintegration. The sentences triggered public backlash, with claims that they were unduly lenient and sent the wrong message. The attorney general’s office said it received multiple complaints under the unduly lenient sentences scheme. The prime minister announced the decision would be referred to the Court of Appeal to determine whether the sentences are appropriate, citing distress and praising the girls’ courage.

"The court of appeal will review the non-custodial sentences given to three teenage boys for the rape of two girls, Keir Starmer has announced. The boys, two of whom were 15 and one aged 14 at the time of sentencing, were given youth rehabilitation orders after the judge in the case said he wanted to avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily and support their reintegration into society."

"The decision prompted a public outcry, with the MP Jess Phillips, the former minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, claiming the sentences were unduly lenient and sent a bad message. One of the victims said the outcome felt like a rock straight in my face. The office of the attorney general, Richard Hermer KC, previously said it had received multiple complaints about the judge's decision under the unduly lenient sentences scheme."

"Starmer said: There are questions about the sentence. The attorney general has power to refer a case to a 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 case now will go to a court of appeal and that is clearly the right outcome."

"The prime minister said the case was really distressing and that the courage of the girls who came forward about it was humbling. I think it's distressing for everybody to see, to hear about, he said. The courage, frankly, of the girls to come forward is humbling, but it is distressing. I find it distressing as a politician. I find it distressing as a father."

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