Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has branded a case involving three teenage boys who raped two girls as "appalling," emphasizing that the Attorney General's review of the sentences was justified. The judge at Southampton Crown Court opted not to impose custodial sentences, instead issuing Youth Rehabilitation Orders.

The incidents occurred in November 2024 and January 2025 in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. Two girls, aged 15 and 14 at the time, were victims of separate rapes. A third boy, then 13, was convicted for his role in the second attack. The perpetrators, two 14-year-olds, and the 13-year-old accomplice, were all spared jail time.

One of the victims, now 16, shared her distress in an interview with the BBC, stating the sentencing felt like "a rock straight in my face." She expressed that the leniency made it seem "as if what the boys did was not OK, but it was OK in the eyes of the law because they were still children." The victim and her family are seeking a review to change the sentences, viewing them as insufficient.

Prime Minister Starmer described the victim's testimony as "harrowing and brave," adding that the girls "have shown extraordinary bravery and strength in heinous circumstances." He confirmed it was "right that law officers are urgently reviewing the sentences." The case has ignited public debate over sentencing for minors convicted of serious offenses.

The first attack involved a 15-year-old girl who met one of the boys, then 14, online via Snapchat. The meeting, intended to be their first in person, led to her rape in an underpass by the River Avon. The second victim, 14 at the time, was raped in a field.

In both instances, the boys recorded the assaults on their mobile phones, with some footage later disseminated online. This element of the crime has further fueled public outrage and concern over the nature and severity of the offenses committed by the minors.

Judge Nicholas Rowland, presiding over the sentencing at Southampton Crown Court, stated his intention to "avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily." The Youth Rehabilitation Orders imposed can include requirements such as unpaid work, curfews, or mandatory participation in treatment programs designed for young offenders.

The review by the Attorney General's office will examine whether the sentences passed were unduly lenient given the severity of the crimes, including the filming and sharing of the rape footage. The outcome of this review could potentially lead to a referral to the Court of Appeal.