AIBU to complain about lenient sentencing in teenage rape case?

I have submitted a complaint. I am absolutely appalled at this sentencing.

People, please ignore this poster, they don't want your voice to be heard.

Only one objection is necessary, but a huge amount will be noticed . And if we just sit and seethe, nothing will change.

This isn't true - only one UL submission is required for the case to be reviewed.

This doesn't have the same mechanics as a petition. It doesn't depend on the volume of submissions made. One form has the same effect as one thousand.

One person and the review may not be taken seriously, multiple requests means they have to take the review seriously

Filled out the form .
You would think the courts would have learned from the rapist taxi driver that it's absolutely not ok to give weak sentences or to let rapist walk free.
These boys haven't had any punishment, they will likely rape again

I don't dismiss people's rage, my point is that rage would be better channelled into actual campaigning for long term change rather than repeatedly filling in a form that was effective the first time it was done.

It's like piling all the rage into a rocking chair. It might give you something to do but it's not going to get you anywhere.

The sentence in this case is going to be reviewed - great. Now maybe that energy should be put to campaigning for more stringent sentencing for rapists generally?

I've actually spent the entire evening out at dinner, as you could evidence by checking the timestamps on my posts given you're that keen.

I've already explained my motivation. You can believe what you wish.

As I said, there a time and a place for being pedantic. This isn’t it.

Fill in the form MNetters!!

Yes but this form isn't a complaint form. You're not complaining by submitting this form.

That doesn't change the fact that public campaigning is extremely important in changing laws and sentencing guidelines.

There’s a time and a place for being padantic and this isn’t it ffs! People are incandescent with rage about this sentence, they want to do something.

Filling in the form on the government website stating you feel these sentences are lenient is a very positive thing to do.

Like I said, I read posts from you 6 hours ago, and you have clearly spent the entire evening trying to put people off from placing objections.

I suspect when I check tomorrow you will still be doing the same thing. Hopefully you'll be ignored. Your motivation baffles me. But I'm sure you're finding the whole thing enjoyable.

How many hours have I spent on this, please?

Because I reckon the sum total of my posts on the matter has taken me about 20 minutes.

It is important to me that the public understands how our legal system operates and that they're not being duped into signing something being presented as a "complaint" or a petition when it is very much not.

As I stated above, hundreds of people complaining is NOT a waste of time in the long term. Lawmakers listen to public option and Guideline have been changed as a direct consequence of complaints by the public.

From the CPS

”Public opinion is not used by courts to determine individual sentences, but it directly influences sentencing policy through the statutory requirement to promote public confidence, and the public can formally submit complaints to have sentences reviewed under specific schemes.”

Keep complaining!!

This isn't a complaint form.

By filling in this form you are not making a complaint.

You are saying that the sentence is unduly lenient in law.

Specifically, you are claiming that the sentence falls outside the range of sentences which the judge, applying his mind to all the relevant factors, could reasonably consider appropriate.

I disagree there is no point more than one person putting in an objection, as a previous PP who is a civil servant posted, while only one objection is necessary, receiving many thousands will draw attention to the amount of public disgust.

Also, could you explain why you have spent so many hours trying to deter people from placing objections? Because you have been remarkably persistent. I first read a thread about this over 6 hours ago, came back and you're still going at it. Why is this so important to you- are you really that concerned about civil servants having a full email inbox tomorrow?

Whilst public opinion is not relevant in the sentencing of individuals, it is very relevant for setting guidelines for sentences.

So it is incredibly important that if people think the punishment in this case is lenient, they do make a complaint so that goverments are aware of public option for any future guidelines.

Why do you think I believe it's not worth bothering?

The fact of the matter is it only takes one UL form to trigger a review. Hundreds of people doing it is a waste of time, and as you can see from this thread there is quite a bit of misunderstanding from posters about what they're actually doing - as I said, it's not a complaint form or a petition.

Posters should know what they're being asked to do and understand what's going on and why. Facts are important.

It depends what you want to achieve.

If you want the sentencing guidelines to be reviewed because you think rape should attract harsher sentences, campaign. Educate yourself on criminal law, start petitions, email your MP.

If you want the sentencing in this particular case to be looked at, that's already been achieved. It was achieved the moment the first UL form went in. Everything else is superfluous.

If you want these boys to go to prison, well to be honest if the option above fails then there's little else which can be done.

You've said this many times, everyone understands you don't think this is worth bothering about. Why you have persistently tried to discourage PP from doing anything is, frankly, bizarre. What is your motivation here? Are you really that worried about civil servants having a full email box?

People are also writing to their MP.

what else would you suggest we do?

This isn't a complaint form or a petition.

If you're submitting this form you are asking for a review on the basis that the sentence is unduly lenient because the judge has made an error of law.

Not because you or I feel the sentence is too short, or because you feel the sentencing guidelines are wrong.

Because you believe the judge has made an error in law. Not in your opinion, in law.

People should understand exactly what it is they are claiming and to be frank I suspect 99% of posters who have "signed" (signed what? It's not a petition) don't realise exactly what they're doing.

As another PP has already stated, only one unduly lenient claim needs to be made for this to be passed for review. A mass campaign to sign isn't going to change anything because the test is whether the judge has erred in law, not in public opinion.

Names - I put not published due to age
Date - today 21/05/2026
Court - Southampton

I pasted this in details; https://www.cps.gov.uk/wessex/news/three-teenage-boys-sentenced-after-two-girls-raped-separate-attacks

Reasons are personal to you

Form submitted. I saw this earlier and it’s absolutely outrageous.

@GasperyJacquesRoberts no. But I'm not having an opinion on the sentence.

I’ve submitted a form of complaint and written an email to my MP. (I’ve never done that before).

Im so angry about this sentence, those boys need intensive, very close supervision and therapy to ensure they never do this kind of thing again.

Those poor poor girls.