Attorney General Refers Teen Rape Sentences to Court of Appeal
Attorney General Lord Hermer has stated he had "no doubt" about referring the case involving teenage boys convicted of raping two girls to the Court of Appeal.
The three boys were spared custodial sentences for the rapes, which led to public backlash. One of the victims described the sentence as feeling like a "rock in my face" during an interview with the BBC.
Details of the Case
The assaults occurred in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, with two girls aged 15 and 14 raped in separate incidents in November 2024 and January 2025. Two 14-year-old boys were convicted for the rapes, and a 13-year-old boy was also found guilty for his involvement in the second attack.
"I was in no doubt that it was a sentence that I felt had to be referred to the Court of Appeal," Lord Hermer told BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast.
Judge Nicholas Rowland handed the boys youth rehabilitation orders (YRO) instead of custodial sentences. He expressed a desire to avoid "criminalising" the "very young" offenders and commended their conduct during the trial.
The boys, whose identities are protected due to their age, denied the charges but were found guilty in March following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.
Sentencing Guidelines and Victims' Impact
The Sentencing Council for England and Wales advises that even in serious cases involving children, courts should prioritize rehabilitation and reserve custody as a last resort.
One of the victims told night that she wished to "be able to go on a walk without being scared," while her father described the attack as having a "lifelong impact" on his daughter.
Lord Hermer said after hearing of the initial sentence for the boys, he "wanted to know the detail as quickly as possible so I could make a decision as quickly as possible" so "uncertainty was not hanging over" the two girls.
"As part of my consideration of the case, I read the victim statements," Lord Hermer said, praising "the bravery of those girls" for "putting themselves through the ordeal of a trial."
"But what is more, when they got those sentences, to carry on campaigning to secure justice."
Attorney General's Commitment to Justice
Lord Hermer emphasized that courts across the country impose lengthy prison terms for sexual offences and affirmed the commitment to ensuring the criminal justice system serves victims effectively.
"We are determined to make sure that the criminal justice system works for victims."
As the chief legal adviser to the government and the Crown, the attorney general also oversees the Law Officers' Departments.
Under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, members of the public can request a review of sentences via a government webpage. If the attorney general and legal experts determine a sentence is unusually lenient, the case is referred to the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal, composed of three senior judges in England and Wales, reviews whether the sentence was too short or appropriate, considering sentencing guidelines and the case's specific circumstances.
Political Reactions
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the sentences on social media, stating the boys received "no punishment at all."
Reform UK's treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick also condemned the sentences, telling the BBC:
"It can never be right that a young person kills someone or rapes someone and they do not go to jail."
