Three teenage boys convicted of raping two girls in the UK have been spared jail, much to the dismay of rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot. The incidents occurred in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, with the first attack on November 26, 2024, and the second on January 17, 2025. In the first assault, two 14-year-old boys raped a 15-year-old girl, while in the second incident, two boys of the same age raped a 14-year-old girl while another filmed the assault.
Rather than receiving custodial sentences, the three boys were given youth rehabilitation orders (YRO), with the older pair also placed under intensive supervision and surveillance (ISS). Pelicot, known for her own past rape case, expressed shock at the leniency shown to the teenage perpetrators, emphasizing the lasting trauma faced by the victims.
Pelicot, who previously played a central role in a high-profile rape trial in France, highlighted the importance of justice in such cases. She emphasized that perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions and that victims deserve recognition and closure through legal consequences.
In response to the court’s decision, one of the victims, now 16, expressed frustration, questioning the necessity of enduring the pain of a trial if the perpetrators would not face appropriate punishment. Pelicot commended the young woman’s courage in seeking justice and hoped that her own story would inspire others to come forward after experiencing similar traumas.
The ruling not to incarcerate the teenage boys was based on the UK’s practice of sending individuals under 18 to secure centers for children instead of adult prisons. Public figures like Keir Starmer and Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones criticized the perceived leniency of the sentences and offered support to the victims’ families in appealing the decision.
The sentences were delivered by Judge Nicholas Rowland at Southampton Crown Court, who emphasized the need to consider the defendants’ young age and the potential for rehabilitation. He stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary criminalization of minors while focusing on their future reintegration into society.
The attorney general’s office confirmed receiving multiple requests to review the sentences under the Unduly Lenient Scheme. A decision on whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal is pending, with a 28-day window for evaluation.