Three teenage boys from a traveller community have been handed youth rehabilitation orders after being convicted of raping two schoolgirls, aged 15 and 14, in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, UK. The court emphasized their young age and lack of understanding of consent, despite the severity of their actions, which included filming the assaults.

• 01The first incident involved a 15-year-old girl lured by two 14-year-old boys who filmed the assault, while a third boy, aged 13, participated in a later attack on a 14-year-old girl.
• 02All three boys received youth rehabilitation orders instead of prison sentences, with the first two receiving three-year orders and the youngest an 18-month order.
• 03The judge highlighted the boys' low intelligence and susceptibility to peer pressure, stating they had a limited understanding of consent.
• 04Victims reported severe emotional trauma, with one stating she felt 'trapped' and the other experiencing harassment from peers after the incident.
• 05The boys attempted to portray the victims as liars during the trial, claiming the second victim was flirting and fabricated the story to avoid trouble.

The case highlights serious issues regarding youth crime and the legal system's handling of sexual offenses, potentially affecting community safety and victim support services.