Content warning - Teenage boys escape prison for rape

I saw a headline that it's been referred to the Attorney General.

I cannot for the life of me undersrand what that judge was thinking. What a despicable excuse for a human.

I've been raped but never reported as I didn't feel safe enough to. But this is different. These girls reported it, there was clear evidence, they're convicted. And then nothing. The judge has basically legalised violent gang rape

I'm really not surprised by any of this. As a survivor of rape within a relationship, by a teenager (I was also a teenager), I'm just glad I've never gone to the trouble of reporting him.

I've read into it and you can't complain about the judge. I want to cry

you can complain about the judge here
https://www.gov.uk/complain-judge-magistrate-tribunal-coroner

The Telegraph as well

https://archive.ph/Gd1mY

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/22/boys-spared-jail-rape-two-girls-sentences-leniency/

It's unlikely that either of the girls will read this but if they do they have my utmost compassion for what they were put through. I hope the future treats them kindly, they're both so brave.

Three teenage travellers who avoided jail for raping two lone schoolgirls could have their sentences overturned for being 'unduly lenient' | Daily Mail Online

Good.

The government are going to review the sentences.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2x7wxjego

Surely every girl and woman is impacted by this ruling, as it sends the message that reporting is not worth it, given the re traumatising nature of doing so.

Where did you see this? TIA

I’m dyslexic so please excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes, this is what I wrote to my MP;

“I am writing to you, my MP, with reference to the three boys sentenced today for the rape and sexual assault of two teenage girls in Fordingbridge.

The sentences of Rehabilitation Orders are wholly inadequate considering these boys planned these horrific acts and carried them out over a period of time, sometimes carrying a knife. The guidelines state that sexual crimes carried out by those under 18, can be treated as “exceptional” and a custodial sentence given.

Please could you raise this case with the Home Office and ensure these sentences are reviewed.

Many thanks”

Seems the government have had a deluge of complaints and are asking to only fill in the forms if you are personally impacted by the ruling. Well done everyone 👏
I'm still writing to my MP though

Can I ask a really naive question. What do you write to your mp? I am beyond words at this, it's horrific, and I want to do something but I don't really know what to write.

I’ve already had a reply from my MP-

Thanks
I agree
I will ask the Attorney General to appeal against the leniency of the punishment

These boys may be of low intelligence, but they had enough about them to plan and lure the first victim to them, to ensure she initially only saw one of them and then attack. They are not of such low intelligence that they cannot be expected to be responsible for their own actions. If they were of such low intelligence, then surely a special hospital order, for those with learning difficulties would have been appropriate? Hampton and Broadmoor are still operational.

What really concerns me is how anything will change for the better. From reading the articles the boys seem to have low intelligence and a very skewed idea of appropriate behaviour. They need some specialist input to stop them doing it again. They definitely need to be in some form of youth detention and to have some intensive work done with them. The boys don’t sound like they are safe to be allowed their freedom.

nothing will change if we don’t educate our boys to how behave (and I don’t mean it is a woman’s responsibility or schools responsibility). There has to be a cultural shift.

I find it unbellievably abhorrent and wrong that this judge said he did not want to criminalise the defendants. But they ARE criminals. They are rapists. The judge in his remarks seems only concerned with the criminals and their future, and apparently has no real concern for the victims and their futures, or the wider social issues that the case raises - about toxic masculinity being peddled to boys, social media that encourages it, lack of parental supervision and responsibility, and the misogyny in society in general. As pp have said - where do we go with our rage?

Jess Phillips now commenting.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2x7wxjego

Yy to vigilantism. I feel rage on behalf of the girls, but imagine if you were a relative? There would be a strong temptation to beat the shit out of the little fuckers.

i’m going to tread very carefully saying this, as I’m exceptionally angry.
but I think it doesn’t take much to see the judge for exactly what they are.
misogyny has always been rife in our ‘justice’ system (although what justice?, justice has not been served) I suspect it’s due to huge egos playing God.

I also think these lenient sentences increase vigilante behaviour, and that’s not good either, but totally understandable.

An article in today's Times emphasises that in court evidence was that they were all three of under normal intelligence. This is not mentioned in the BBC article. I do wonder if that evidence was manufactured or enhanced in order to get a lenient sentence. Misogynistic behaviour has to be challenged. No doubt these boys were encouraged by porn they had watched. No real consequences for them, and no deterrence for other little bastards. Thiose poor girls! They were so brave, but for what? Won't that discourage other victims from reporting such crimes.

I don't know what the sentencing guidelines are for this, but off the top of my head I'd say if they were adults I'd like them to get at least 17 years each. As they are youngish teenagers I'd be happy with half that, say 9 years.

Rape sentencing in this country is a joke. Even when the rapists are convicted (rare) the sentence is laughable. It's not a punishment, it's not a deterrent, and it's horrendous both for the victims and the rest of the women and girls who have to walk the streets.

Every time I read the news there are more rapes. In war zones, or what we think of as uncivilized countries, men rape with impunity, and sometimes I wonder how far away we are from this.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ywgn2n3nqo

The added insult, to the girls of a three month curfew, really shows the judges contempt for the victims. If he wanted to keep them out of the prison system (although for such a serious crime I'm not sure why, none of the juvenile offender research was ever done with offenders of such seriousness) he could have used electronic tags and ensured that they attended school and home only, for three years, the absolute insult of this "sentence " beggars belief. If they had been sent to secure units, they would at least have had some therapeutic input about the effects of their offending, while ensuring that they could not rape again for the duration of their incarceration.