Three teenage boys convicted of raping two girls in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, will have their sentences reviewed after receiving non-custodial penalties that sparked public outrage. The Attorney General, Lord Hermer, has referred the case to the Court of Appeal to assess whether the sentences imposed were unduly lenient.

The assaults occurred in November 2024 and January 2025. The victims were two separate lone girls, with one attack involving the use of a knife. The three boys, aged 14 and 15, were found guilty of rape; however, instead of custodial sentences, the two 15-year-olds received youth rehabilitation orders. The 14-year-old, involved in the second attack, also received a non-custodial sentence.

Judge Nicholas Rowland, who handed down the sentences, justified the decisions by citing the offenders’ youth, low intellectual capacity, and diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He emphasized a desire to avoid unnecessarily criminalizing children.

The ruling has drawn widespread criticism from political figures, law enforcement, and advocacy groups. Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition, described the referral to the Court of Appeal as “clearly the right outcome,” acknowledging the distress caused by the case and commending the courage of the victims in coming forward. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had previously condemned the attacks as “appalling.”

Support for the sentence review also came from Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, who expressed concern over the message the initial sentences sent to young people. Dame Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner, and Donna Jones, the local policing chief, joined calls for a tougher response.

One of the victims’ families issued a statement thanking the public for their support and expressing hope that the Court of Appeal would overturn the original sentences in favor of harsher penalties. They urged judges to ensure that punishments correspond appropriately to the severity of the crimes, emphasizing that excuses should not be made for such offenses.

The case has resonated beyond the immediate community. Gisèle Pelicot, a French rape survivor who endured repeated assaults, expressed her shock at the decision that allowed the offenders to remain free.

Lord Hermer affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring safety and confidence in the justice system for women and girls. “This Government will not hesitate in taking action to ensure all women and girls feel safe and have confidence in the justice system,” he stated.

The outcome of the Court of Appeal’s review is pending.