Two teenage boys who raped girls given four years' detention after appeal court changes sentences

Summary

Warning: This story contains distressing details
Two teenage boys, convicted of rape in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, have been given four years' detention after the Court of Appeal changed their original sentences
Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr says the boys' initial non-custodial sentences were "unduly lenient", and the trial judge undervalued the seriousness of their crimes
The boys will not spend the full four years in detention, she tells them, and they will have to follow police instructions for the rest of their lives
Two teenage girls were raped - one in November 2024, and one in January 2025 - by the boys, then aged 14
They were initially given Youth Rehabilitation Orders, along with a third boy, then 13, who filmed parts of the second attack. His sentence remains unchanged
The families of the victims say "justice has been served" today, while Attorney General Lord Hermer welcomes the ruling, saying: "No-one should have to endure what the victims went through"
The offenders have anonymity because of their age. The victims also have anonymity

Live Reporting

Edited by Rorey Bosotti, with Daniel Sandford reporting from the Court of Appeal

Court of Appeal was told yesterday that initial sentence was 'wrong'published at 13:57 BST 2 July

Image source, Getty Images
In yesterday's hearing, the Court of Appeal was told the judge was "wrong" to pass non-custodial sentences on the three boys.
Tom Little KC, for the attorney general, told the court that "the extent and nature of the offending was so serious such that the only appropriate sentence for [the boys] was detention".
He also said the judge's sentencing remarks had made "limited reference to the marked impact of this offending on both victims and the clear evidence of extensive harm suffered as a result".
Lawyers for the boys argued the judge had approached sentencing correctly, giving the best chance of rehabilitation while protecting against future offending.
Girl raped by teenage boys told BBC: 'I'm scared I'm going to see them'published at 13:52 BST 2 July

The second victim, who was 14 when she was raped in Fordingbridge, said in May she wanted "freedom" from fear.
She told BBC Newsnight: "I just want to be able to go on a walk without being scared that I'm going to see them and they're gonna try to do something again."
Her father said the January 2025 attack has caused a "lifelong impact" on his daughter and called for a custodial sentence for the boys.
"This is a life sentence for her," he said.
The teenage girl said her mental health has suffered significantly following the attack and she struggles to get out of bed.
"I feel like no matter what I do, I can always feel their hands [the rapists'] on me, no matter how much I've scrubbed, how much I've tried to get the feeling away, it's always there and it just doesn't feel like my body anymore."
Media caption,
The family were given pseudonyms and their words were voiced by actors for BBC Newsnight

Boys in separate court to hear decisionpublished at 13:46 BST 2 July
Sean Dilley
Reporting from Southampton Crown Court

We're outside Southampton Crown Court - where the three boys were initially sentenced in May.
Judge Nicholas Rowland handed each boy non-custodial sentences, as our previous post details.
The boys will appear here to find out whether the Court of Appeal, which is in London, decides if their original sentence was unduly lenient.
We understand that boys will watch today's London court feed from a private room inside the court behind us.
What sentences did the boys get?published at 13:37 BST 2 July

The three offenders have anonymity because of their age, and are being referred to as X, Y and Z throughout the case.
X and Y were given three-year Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YRO) alongside involvement in the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Life Programme (ISSP) for 180 days.
The ISSP is community-based programme used with serious young offenders who are either serving community sentences or on bail.
X and Y's sentence includes supervision, a nighttime curfew with a tag for three months, as well as a restraining order prohibiting contact with the two victims for 10 years.
Z was given an 18-month YRO, which also includes supervision and a 10-year restraining order. Z also is subject to a nighttime curfew, but with a doorstep condition - which isn't electronically monitored.

Court of Appeal considers sentences of three boys convicted of rapepublished at 13:25 BST 2 July

Image source, Getty Images
Senior judges at the Court of Appeal will this afternoon announce whether the sentences of three boys convicted of rape should change.
Two 15-year-olds were given non-custodial sentences after attacking two girls in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire in 2024 and 2025.
The judge said he wanted to "avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily".
A third boy, now aged 14, was also convicted at Southampton Crown Court for his involvement in the second attack, and was also given a non-custodial sentence.
The sentences led to a public outcry, and were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General, Lord Hermer, as "unduly lenient".
A two-day hearing began yesterday at the Royal Courts of Justice.
After 14:00 BST, the judges will announce their decision. Our reporters in court will bring you that when it happens - you'll also be able to watch the judges' reasoning in our stream, after the decision is announced.