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A teenage girl who was raped by three boys in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, when she was 14 has spoken out about her desire to live without fear after her attackers were spared prison. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, she expressed her wish for the freedom to walk outside without fearing another assault. The attack, which took place in January 2025, has had a profound and lasting effect on her mental health and wellbeing.
Her father described the incident as having a “lifelong impact” on his daughter, emphasizing that the trauma she endures feels like a sentence in itself. He called for the boys to receive custodial sentences, stating, “This is a life sentence for her.” The three boys involved, two aged 14 and one aged 13 at the time, were convicted of rape and rape by aiding and abetting. Despite the severity of the crimes, the youths were sentenced to Youth Rehabilitation Orders, which has sparked public outrage and led to the sentences being referred to the Court of Appeal for review.
The girl revealed the deep toll the attacks have taken on her daily life. She talked about experiencing vivid flashbacks and not being able to sleep, saying, “I don’t sleep at night, because I’m worried something’s going to happen.” School has also become challenging due to her low attendance and falling behind in her studies, which she feels has diminished her potential. Her parents, who spoke anonymously alongside their daughter, voiced their hope for her to regain happiness and freedom from fear.
During the attack at Fordingbridge Recreation Ground, one of the boys used a knife to cut her clothing before the assault, while video footage shown in court depicted her lying motionless on the ground with another boy heard encouraging the attack. A separate, earlier incident in November 2024 involved the same two older boys raping another girl, aged 15. The boys filmed the assaults on their phones and shared some footage online. The case was heard at Southampton Crown Court, where the boys were found guilty of 10 counts of rape between them. The judge, while acknowledging the gravity of the crimes and the impact of filming the assaults, chose rehabilitation over imprisonment, citing the offenders’ young age. This decision has provoked widespread concern, with senior officials reviewing the sentences amid calls for stronger consequences
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