A judge’s decision not to imprison two teenage rapists has been escalated to the Court of Appeal, as confirmed by Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister stated that the attorney general, Lord Richard Hermer, had reevaluated the non-custodial sentences, which have triggered public outrage. In Fordingbridge, Hampshire, two girls, aged 15 and 14, were victims of separate assaults in November 2024 and January 2025.
During the initial attack, a 15-year-old girl was assaulted by two 14-year-old teenagers. The subsequent incident involved three teens, who menaced the 14-year-old victim with a knife. While two attackers sexually assaulted the young girl, the others supported them and recorded the appalling assaults.
Recently, two 15-year-old boys received three-year youth rehabilitation orders with intensive supervision and surveillance (ISS). The third boy, aged 14, was handed an 18-month youth rehabilitation order. The judge at Southampton Crown Court expressed a desire to refrain from unnecessarily criminalizing these juveniles. Following the decision not to incarcerate the rapists, one of the victims likened the impact to a sudden shock.
Keir Starmer remarked, “There are concerns regarding the sentencing. The Attorney General has the authority to refer a case to the Court of Appeal if the sentence is deemed too lenient.” He continued, “The Attorney General has now exercised that authority. Hence, I can confirm that the case will proceed to the Court of Appeal, which is the appropriate course of action.”
Expressing his distress over the case, Starmer emphasized the courage displayed by the girls in speaking out. The Court of Appeal judges will assess whether the sentences were excessively lenient. Lord Hermer commended the girls for their bravery in coming forward and vowed to combat the escalating violence against women and girls.
One of the teenage victims, now 16, voiced her desire for a revision of the boys’ sentence, questioning the ordeal she endured during the legal process. Barrister Charlotte Proudman, specializing in violence against women and girls, criticized the criminal justice system for failing to prioritize the victims’ well-being.
Judge Nicholas Rowland at Southampton Crown Court defended his sentencing approach, considering the offenders’ age and the potential for reoffending. Starmer acknowledged the victim’s poignant testimony as he called for an urgent review of the sentences by legal authorities.
Former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve acknowledged the judge’s deviation from sentencing guidelines due to the offenders’ youth but supported the public’s right to seek a review from the attorney general.