AIBU to think these boys should have been incarcerated?

[newrubylane]

BBC News - Teenage boys sentenced for raping lone girls
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypg68e2neo

I've never started an AIBU before, but I'm genuinely really shocked. I'm just not sure how this sentence is justifiable. Their actions were premeditated and deliberate, they were carrying a knife and they filmed themselves. They're obviously a danger to women/girls, and probably to other boys too.

If anyone knows how and why this sentence might have come about, I'd be interested to hear it.

Form submitted.

Complained here too. We are supposed to be sending a message to young lads that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable, the Andrew Tates of this world are not role models. To get such a light punishment sends out the wrong message.

I've done it too. I'm also going to contact my MP and Jess Phillips

Hopefully they weren't in court to hear it.

I've given evidence in a magistrates court for something relatively trivial. Before going in the option of listening to the remainder of the trial from the public gallery was suggested. I wasn't sure. When I'd finished being cross-examined I was far too shaken to face it.

Is there a petition against the sentence? Disgusting that they are not behind bars.

I can only guess that the judge has been got at beforehand. Apalling!

I have submitted the forms and complained too. Absolutely abhorrent lack of any appropriate sentencing here.

Thanks Anne!!

I was wondering if he was fit for trial. Which is a thing. You can look it up.
There are a series of capacity and competencies they have to look at. Given his level and severity of learning capacity which is considerable I was just wondering how they arrived that he was fit for trial. It is a reasonable thing to wonder.
Clearly they did as he stood trial.
It doesn’t mean I don’t think what they did appalling. It doesn’t mean if he was found unfit for trial that he would be simply let free. He wouldn’t .

Absolutely shocking

When I first learnt what rape was when I was a child, I was utterly amazed the rapists did not go to prison for life.

How naive was I.

Who is this sinister "they" you refer to?

The judge is Nicholas Rowland, as detailed in numerous media articles.

Form submitted - shocking, those poor girls 🥲

My gut reaction when I read the article was that the sentence was too lenient, however, on further reflection I am not so sure. For me it depends on whether they have shown any genuine remorse for what they did (not just remorse for being caught) - so it will be interesting to read the judges comments.

Youth Rehabilitation Order can actually be more restrictive than a custodial sentence and can also include periods of restricted freedom. It is possible that the judge felt that the boys may be less likely to re-offend if they got the intensive support available through a YRO than if they were thrown into a young offenders institute. He must also think that their families will be on board with supporting the implementation of the order (e.g. any curfews and getting to required sessions etc)

His reference to peer pressure implies that he thinks they are easily suggestible and prisons and YOIs have never been well funded in terms of rehabilitation.

It will really depend on how many of the 15 possible YRO requirements are part of order: https://yjlc.uk/resources/legal-terms-z/youth-rehabilitation-order-yro

Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs) are community sentences given to children. These can be tailored to address the needs of the individual child, the risk of harm and the risk of re-offending. Each sentence includes different requirements. There is no minimum period for a YRO but they can last up to three years. YROs are covered by sections 173 – 199 and Schedule 6 of the Sentencing Act 2020. They cannot be imposed where the criteria for compulsory Referral Orders are met or where the sentence is fixed by law.

There are 15 different available YRO requirements:
• activity requirement (maximum 90 days)
• supervision requirement
• unpaid work (16 and 17-year olds only; 40-240 hours)
• programme requirement
• attendance centre requirement (maximum 12 hours for children aged 10–13; between 12 and 24 hours for 14–15-year olds; and between 12 and 36 hours for 16–17-year-olds)
• prohibited activity requirement
• curfew requirement (maximum 12 months and between two and 20 hours a day)
• exclusion requirement (maximum three months)
• residence requirement (16- and 17-year olds)
• local authority residence requirement (maximum six months, but not for any period after young person attains age of 18)
• mental health treatment requirement
• drug treatment requirement
• drug testing requirement (14-17-year olds only)
• intoxicating substance treatment requirement
• education requirement
• Electronic monitoring requirement (attached to curfew or GPS location monitoring)

What's actually even sadder is that under the YRO the boys will likely have access to a whole host of counselling and support opportunities and I suspect the girls are not getting anywhere near the same levels of support!

In the UK it rape is effectively decriminalised. Usually this is due to hardly any offenders being found guilty and now it seems that even those who are found guilty will just be getting a slap on the wrist with more concern about their future wellbeing and rehabilitation than the safety of women or girls not to mention justice for the victims in this case. So there you have it, its ok for men to rape women in the UK.

www.theguardian.com/australia-news/ng-interactive/2025/jan/31/is-effectively-decriminalised-how-did-sexual-assault-become-so-easy-to-get-away-with-ntwnfb

It doesn’t matter what community the boys come from. Nor the girls. The law is the law.

The males in this case chose to break the law. Repeatedly. It was planned and organised. They criminalised themselves.

Does anyone have any insight into a rehabilitation program that would be suitable for these males? One that has a proven track record of success? One that can be consistently and successfully delivered outside of a YOI or secure accommodation? I have a feeling that I would struggle to find one but I am willing to be corrected.

Bumping this for those in later pages
so they can complain

Not a petition
Its a request to the courts to review the sentence

Thanks all who posted about how to object, I have done so too. Hopefully a tide will show the AG that they need to deal with this sexist and misogynistic member of the judiciary and revisit this sentence.

Edited. Tagged wrong poster

Please could you post the link on here please? I'm appalled and horrified for those poor girls 😔

Just posted it above

@Bollihobs you're not responsible for other people’s poor reading comprehension. What you meant was perfectly clear.

It's nit picking when I have explained how I was using the phrase - 'just' is not a wrong word when it isn't used in the that way.

Thank you!

You're arguing with someone who wished gang rape on the judge on page one. I'd ignore any attempts to claim the moral high ground from them if I were you.

Like that pathetic outcome will change those boys. A slap on the wrist basically.

Once again women girls. Let down by the courts and men boys get away with their vile behaviour.