A teenage girl, who was raped by two boys, has described a judge's decision to spare her attackers jail as feeling like a "rock straight in my face." Speaking anonymously to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, the 16-year-old victim questioned the purpose of her ordeal if the perpetrators, who were children at the time, were not incarcerated. She felt the judge's decision implied their actions were not sufficiently serious in the eyes of the law. The attorney general is now set to review the sentencing.

The girl was 15 when she was attacked in an underpass near the River Avon in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. The assault occurred in November 2024 after she had begun an online relationship via Snapchat with one of the boys and travelled to meet him. Both defendants, aged 15 at the time of the first attack, were also convicted of a separate rape in January 2025, involving a second victim. A third boy, who was 14, was convicted for his role in this second incident.

Evidence presented in court revealed that the boys filmed the assaults on their phones and subsequently shared some of the footage online. During the sentencing at Southampton Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Rowland acknowledged the gravity of the crimes, particularly noting how the filming of the attacks exacerbated their seriousness. However, he stated his intention to avoid criminalizing very young boys, praising them for their conduct throughout the trial.

The victim and her family strongly disagree with the leniency of the sentences, which they have characterized as a "slap on the wrist." They are advocating for the boys to be sent to jail. The attorney general has a 28-day period to determine if the sentences warrant referral to the Court of Appeal.

The girl's mother made an emotional appeal directly to the prime minister, pleading for intervention and questioning whether the decision would be acceptable if it involved their own family members. She emphasized the public's likely dissatisfaction and urged the prime minister to use his position of power to address the situation.

The mother's partner, who was present in court for the sentencing, expressed his profound distress upon hearing the judge's decision, stating he felt "physically sick."

This case highlights the complex legal considerations surrounding juvenile offenders, particularly in cases involving serious sexual offenses and the distribution of exploitative material. The age of the perpetrators, their behavior during the trial, and the nature of the crimes are all factors that contributed to the judge's controversial sentencing.

Legal experts suggest that while judges must consider rehabilitation and the potential impact of custodial sentences on young offenders, the severity of the offenses, including the filming and sharing of the assaults, often necessitates a strong deterrent sentence. The attorney general's review will scrutinize whether the original sentence adequately reflects the harm caused to the victims and the seriousness of the crimes committed.