Content warning - Teenage boys escape prison for rape

[ArabellaScott]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypg68e2neo

These poor girls. An absolutely sickening article.

'Two 15-year-old boys and a boy, 14, were previously convicted of rape following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.
The 15-year-olds were given three-year Youth Rehabilitation Orders with intensive surveillance and supervision. The younger boy's probation supervision will be for one and half years.
Two of the boys' mothers burst into tears as Judge Nicholas Rowland told the attackers "none of you need to go to prison today".
The judge praised the bravery of the two girls for giving evidence.'

How is surveillance/supervision going to make the slightest bit of difference? These boys should have gone to prison or a YOI.

Judge praises girls for their bravery while failing to dish out any consequences whatsoever.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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”

Where did you see this? TIA

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.

The government are going to review the sentences.

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

Good.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Yes you can I think. You just need to be careful to ensure you are complaining about his behaviour not the sentence ( which can be complained about elsewhere) his remarks were sexist and offensive.

What you can report: Incidents of personal misconduct such as the use of offensive/racist/sexist language, bullying, aggressive outbursts, or falling asleep on the bench. You do not need to be a party to the case to report this kind of behavior.

Also be aware the organisation that oversees Judicial conduct JCIO has been refusing to respond to FOIA requests about complaints and why almost no complaints are even allowed to go to the investigation stage. It's clear the Judiciary is rotton and only loud voices and extreme pressure are going to break this boys club down.

Here's hoping when reviewed they get meaningful sentences .

It's absolutely despicable. As well as the impact on the individuals in the case, it's sending a terrifying message to the girls and women in this country. And to the boys/men, that they can do whatever the hell they like to women.

Found an article about the referral

https://archive.ph/7RsBT

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/attorney-general-rapists-spared-jail-sbrvdkr0z

I don't understand the judge's reference to 'peer pressure'. Was there something in the evidence about this? Or, as I suspect, did he pull it out of his arse? The sentence he said, 'None of you need to go to prison today.', has haunted me. Did saying that make the judge feel like Santa Claus? I picture the relief on the faces of the rapists. I can't bear to imagine how those two young girls felt when they heard it. I hope they weren't there for the sentencing.

I hope the AG rectifies this.

I just heard about the review on the radio and came to post about it, glad to see posters have already done so. I'm simply incredulous at this non-sentence, what the Hell was the judge thinking? He should be sacked.

As everyone has said, it sends a terrible message to boys, that rape is minor. To girls, that they are not relevant and of little worth.

We can only hope that Hermer puts them away for years, but I'm not confident. He's a long time ally of Starmer.

Although he is supposed to administer justice to and for all, it seems he only does so for the male half of the population. He is not therefore fitted to be a judge. His remarks in this case were shameful in their partisanship - care for the future of the rapists, none for those of the female victims. I despair of the outright misogyny in society from the top to the the dregs, both of which are shown in this awful case.