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Warning: This article contains details of sexual violence that some readers may find distressing.
Survivor voices outrage over sentencing decision
French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot has condemned the non-custodial sentences handed to three teenage boys convicted of raping two girls in Hampshire, calling the decision "deeply shocking". The boys, aged 13 to 15 at the time of the attacks, received Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs) instead of prison time.
Case details and legal context
The incidents occurred in Fordingbridge in November 2024 and January 2025, involving two girls aged 14 and 15 at the time. Two 14-year-old boys were convicted of rape, while a 13-year-old was found guilty of aiding the second attack. The boys also shared videos of the assaults on social media, which prosecutors described as aggravating the crimes.
Judge Nicholas Rowland at Southampton Crown Court imposed three-year YROs on the two older boys, including 180 days of intensive supervision, curfews, and 10-year restraining orders. The youngest received an 18-month YRO. None will serve time in secure juvenile facilities, as custody for under-18s in England and Wales prioritises rehabilitation over punishment.
"I should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily and understand the effects of their behaviour," Judge Rowland said during sentencing. "None of you need to go to prison today."
Judge Nicholas Rowland
Victims and advocates react
One of the victims, now 16, told the BBC the sentences felt like a "rock straight in my face". She questioned the purpose of enduring the trial if the outcome left the offenders free, calling it a "slap on the wrist". Her family is pushing for the sentences to be reviewed and the boys jailed.
Pelicot, who waived her anonymity during her own landmark trial in France, where her husband was jailed for orchestrating her repeated rapes, said she was "shocked" the boys avoided custody. "Rape is a crime, and justice must name it, recognise victims' suffering, and ensure crimes are not left unpunished," she told BBC Breakfast.
Political and public response
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the case "appalling" and praised the victims' "extraordinary bravery". The Attorney General, Lord Richard Hermer, is reviewing the sentences under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, with 28 days to decide whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.
Pelicot also criticised the role of social media in the case, urging governments and tech companies to better protect victims from online exploitation. The boys' decision to film and share the attacks added to the severity of the crimes, according to the judge.
Legal framework for youth sentencing
Sentencing guidelines in England and Wales prioritise rehabilitation for children, using custody only as a last resort. Courts weigh the seriousness of the offence against factors like age, maturity, and potential for reintegration. Judge Rowland acknowledged the gravity of the crimes but emphasised the boys' young ages in his ruling.
Pelicot, who headlined this year's Hay Festival, said she hoped her story had inspired the victims to come forward. "I salute their strength," she said. "It is an incredibly difficult decision to speak out."
