Starmer 'appalled' by case of boys spared jail after raping teenage girls

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the decision to spare three teenage boys from custodial sentences after they were convicted of raping two girls aged 14 and 15 in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. The boys, aged 13 and 14 at the time of the offenses, were instead given Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs), community sentences involving measures such as unpaid work and curfews. Starmer described the case as "appalling" and welcomed the ongoing review of the sentences by law officers. The assaults took place in November 2024 and January 2025, with one victim raped in an underpass after meeting one of the boys through Snapchat, and the other attacked in a field. The boys filmed the rapes and shared some footage online, which the judge noted increased the severity of the crimes. Despite acknowledging the seriousness of the offenses, Judge Nicholas Rowland emphasized avoiding unnecessary criminalization of the offenders due to their young age. The judge also commended the boys’ conduct during the trial. One of the victims, now 16, spoke out about the impact of the sentencing, describing it as a "rock straight in my face" and expressing frustration that the law appeared to treat the crimes as less serious because the perpetrators were children. She and her family have called for the sentences to be reconsidered and for the boys to receive custodial sentences, arguing that the current punishments are insufficient given the trauma endured. The prime minister praised the victims' courage in speaking publicly about their experiences. The Attorney General has 28 days to decide whether to refer the sentences to the Court of Appeal for review. Cabinet Minister Darren Jones indicated that a decision on the matter is expected soon. The case has sparked wider debate about how the justice system handles serious offenses committed by minors and the balance between rehabilitation and accountability.