Rape case - distressing content - have they got away with it?

[Ohcrap082024]

BBC news report

Hopefully this link works but I really wish it wasn’t necessary to post this.

Two teenage girls, separately raped by a group of boys. Premeditated. Filmed. Convicted. And still the rapists get to go home with a non custodial sentence. I’m disgusted but not shocked.

Those poor girls. Reporting what happened and giving evidence. Yes, they were believed. But the sentences are woeful.

So often with criminal cases i can see some sort of logic, even as incomprehensible as it might seem, that at least grounds the decision of a judge or jury.
This one i can't fathom. It's unforgivable

Me too . This is outrageous.

I started the thread about this in AIBU - glad to hear it's in the chat over here too, and glad I'm not the only one who thinks this is outrageous.

The more I read, the more sickened I am. Both girls were raped 3 times. The younger boy raped one of the girls twice.

They did not plead guilty. There was a 7 week gap between the rapes. Planned, egged on, enjoyed, filmed, shared. These boys criminalised themselves.

A 3 month curfew…will end before the end of the school holidays.

A 10 year restraining order… so they can contact the girls just at the point when they are launching their adult lives.

I am so fucking angry.

I know that the girls will never see our posts. But I just hope that in some small way, they could know that there are many, many people who believe them and can see that they have been treated appallingly. We will not stand by and let this happen.

Absolutely shocking. Those poor girls. No justice

We must not criminalise children, at any cost- so we are told in my role (think a social care adjacent role).

Often at the cost of other children 🤷‍♀️

Theres a lot fo things children do which have serious consequences they couldn’t have anticipated, kids do stupid things. This was not one of those times, the level of depravity, low empathy and criminality in these kids means not sending them to prison won’t be doing them a favour so they can have a good hard think and correct ways, it’ll just teach them they can get away with stuff. They will do it again. You have to be a special kind of arsehole to do this. They are fundamentally bad people. I know it’s not fashionable to say that but some people just are.

I feel so awful for the girls, this is just awful but when you read so many lenient sentences if any at all for crimes against girls and women it’s not surprising. We need some sort of legislation preventing judges from handing out non custodial sentences for crimes that inflict physical harm.

Online form completed - I’m absolutely disgusted these three teenagers have been served such a lenient sentence (can you even call it a sentence)!

I came on MN specifically to see if this was being discussed. Thank you to the poster who recommended filling out the form, I have done so and urge everyone to do the same. It is absolutely outrageous. Those poor, poor girls.

I wonder why the mainstream press is reluctant to say from which lawless community these creatures come. I can't help but feel it would be blazed loud if they were brown or black..

And they wonder why women and girls dont report rapes. I am so so angry at this judge i wish him harm.

His comments commending the defendants on their conduct in court. Well as long as they were good little rapists in public that makes it ok then. Ffs. The man is a disgrace.

I will fill in the form and hope something is done.

That is an outrageous sentence for such serious crimes.

I attempted to submit a request. The link does not work. Any suggestions? Secretly hoping the site has crashed due to overwhelming protest.

These girls have been really let down, I have completed the form.

Came here to post the same thing. This has really upset me . That poor girl. Yes they have got away with it and I feel those boys are dangerous. I will fill out that form, thanks. I think our justice system stinks.

Sorry just noticed more than one girl. What was that judge thinking ?

Online form completed and written to the Home Office

Completed the form. This is truly sickening and I fear for women and girls in this country.

Thank you so much for sharing the link, I have filled out the form. I am in shock, sickened, disgusted by what happened to the girls and the judge. There is so much talk of protecting women and girls and yet this joke of a 'sentance' was passed. I found the judge's praise of the boy's conduct in the courtroom particularly grotesque.

This is horrendous. I always knew rape cases were badly dealt with here but until we went through it as a family, I had no idea just how awful and harrowing it was.

I completely understand why women and girls don’t want to see the process through. My daughter was treated like she was the one on trial by the defence barrister. Bear in mind she was a child when she was attacked. He was convicted but wasn’t given a custodial sentence as “he was the family breadwinner” 🤷‍♂️

I’ve just seen that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, Donna Jones, has publicly criticised the sentences. Essentially, calling them too focused on rehabilitation, too lenient. That if the victims and their families wish to appeal, she will support them.

This is absolutely fucking appalling. To be a multiple rapist at 15 - these boys are going to grow into dangerous, violent, misogynistic men who have no boundaries and who think they are exempt from the law.

those poor girls.

WTF was the judge thinking??

I’m going to fill in the form too.

I saw that on the DM app.
I was utterly disgusted at the sentence handed down.
They know right from wrong.
I am both sad and angry on the victim’s behalf.
I live in Ireland and we have judges who are very soft on sexual crimes against women ( one in particular is notorious for his soft sentencing ).
I thought Brutish judges were tougher.
I truly hope this will be appealed.
Has any Labour politician spoken out about it ?
I know a Tory politician has.

I'm a bleeding heart liberal leftie apologist normally.

But you cannot have a system with no consequences for rape. It is basically legal. Now even with the parlous conviction rate when you get a conviction there are still no consequences.

And they won't be rehabilitated easily or quickly. Sex offending has a massive recidivism rate.

The judges care more about personal circumstances than public protection.

Will they be letting women off jail for non payment of bills (women are more than 2x as likely to get sent to prison for a financial crime)- claim to not be able to read well and be let off? Of course not. This is just for men isn't it? And mostly when they attack women.