Three teenage boys involved in the rape of two girls in Fordingbridge were considered a significant risk to young females, according to the sentencing remarks by Judge Nicholas Rowland. The judge stated that the crimes committed by the boys warranted a custodial sentence during the trial at Southampton Crown Court.
Despite being spared jail time, the sentences of the three boys are now under review by the Court of Appeal following concerns raised under the Unduly Lenient Sentences (ULS) scheme. Prosecutors highlighted that the assaults, which took place in 2024 and 2025, were recorded on phones and depicted the boys laughing and goading each other.
The decision to refer the case to the Court of Appeal came after widespread public outcry, with Attorney General Lord Hermer expressing alarm over the prevalence of violence against women and girls in the country. The sentencing remarks by Judge Rowland for the two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old have been made public.
One of the 15-year-old defendants received a three-year youth rehabilitation order (YRO) with 180 days of intensive supervision and surveillance for each rape offense against the two 14 and 15-year-old victims, along with two charges related to indecent images. The other 15-year-old was given a similar sentence for multiple rape charges and indecent image offenses.
The youngest boy, aged 14 during the incidents, was handed an 18-month YRO for his involvement in the crimes. Despite acknowledging that the offenses crossed the custody threshold, Judge Rowland opted not to impose immediate custody, citing the guidelines for dealing with youth offenders.
The judge emphasized the importance of considering the emotional and developmental ages of the boys, taking into account their individual circumstances and risks of reoffending. He noted that rehabilitation through non-custodial measures was deemed more suitable in these cases.
Judge Rowland underlined the need to avoid unnecessary criminalization of the young offenders and stressed the importance of guiding them to understand the impact of their actions, encouraging responsibility, and facilitating their reintegration into society. He highlighted the potential for learning from mistakes and behavior change in young offenders, emphasizing the role of rehabilitation in reducing the risk of future offending.
