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Attorney General Lord Hermer has expressed certainty in his decision to refer the case involving three teenage boys convicted of raping two girls to the Court of Appeal. The decision followed significant public criticism after the boys were given youth rehabilitation orders rather than custodial sentences. One of the victims described hearing the sentence as feeling like a “rock in my face,” highlighting the emotional impact of the ruling.
The incidents involved two girls, aged 15 and 14 at the time, who were assaulted separately in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, in late 2024 and early 2025. Two 14-year-old boys were responsible for the attacks, with an additional 13-year-old boy convicted for participating in the second assault. Despite the gravity of the crimes, Judge Nicholas Rowland chose to avoid imposing prison time, emphasizing rehabilitation for the “very young” offenders and commending their conduct during the court proceedings.
According to the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, custody should be used only as a last resort in serious cases involving children, with a focus on rehabilitation. After learning of the initial sentences, Lord Hermer acted swiftly, wanting to minimize the distress and uncertainty experienced by the victims. He reviewed victim statements and praised the courage shown by the girls, not only in enduring the trial but also in continuing their efforts to seek justice following the sentence.
Lord Hermer also underscored that courts routinely hand down lengthy prison terms for sexual offenses and affirmed a commitment to ensuring the criminal justice system serves the interests of victims. As the government’s chief legal adviser, the attorney general oversees legal departments and can review sentences believed to be unduly lenient. If a sentence is found to be inconsistent with normal standards, the case is escalated to the Court of Appeal, where senior judges reassess the appropriateness of the ruling.
The decision to challenge the boys’ sentences has sparked criticism from political figures. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch remarked that the young offenders had received “no punishment at all,” while Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick condemned the outcome, stating, “It can never be right that a young person kills someone or rapes someone and they do not go to jail.
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