Victim Reacts to UK Judge's Lenient Sentence for Teenage Rapists
UK judge’s decision not to jail boys for rape like a ‘rock straight in my face’, says victim, 16
Image: The Guardian
A UK judge's decision not to imprison two teenage boys for raping two girls has drawn outrage, with one victim describing it as a 'rock straight in my face.' The boys received youth rehabilitation orders instead of prison time, prompting calls for a review of the leniency of their sentences. The case has raised significant public concern and demands for justice.
- 01The rapes occurred in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, with incidents on November 26, 2024, and January 17, 2025.
- 02The judge, Nicholas Rowland, emphasized the need to avoid criminalizing the boys unnecessarily and to support their reintegration into society.
- 03Both boys received three-year youth rehabilitation orders and were subject to intensive supervision and surveillance.
- 04The victims were subjected to online harassment following the incidents, with videos of the rapes circulated among peers.
- 05Hampshire police and local officials are offering support to the victims' families for a potential appeal against the sentences.
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In a controversial ruling, a judge at Southampton crown court decided against imprisoning two teenage boys who raped two girls in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. The first attack occurred on November 26, 2024, and the second on January 17, 2025. Both boys, aged 15, were sentenced to three-year youth rehabilitation orders with intensive supervision instead of prison time. One victim, now 16, expressed her frustration, stating the decision felt like a 'rock straight in my face' and questioned the purpose of the trial. Prosecutor Jodie Mittell KC revealed that the rapes were filmed and shared, leading to further harassment of the victims online. The judge, Nicholas Rowland, justified his decision by highlighting the boys' youth and the need for rehabilitation rather than punishment. This ruling has sparked public outrage, prompting calls for a review under the attorney general's 'unduly lenient' scheme. Local officials, including Hampshire's crime commissioner, have expressed deep concern over the case and offered support to the victims' families in seeking justice.
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The leniency of the sentences has raised concerns about justice for victims of sexual violence, potentially affecting public trust in the legal system.
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