A judge's decision not to jail two teenage boys who raped two girls has been widely condemned, with one of the victims describing it as a 'rock straight in my face'. The boys, aged 15, were given youth rehabilitation orders for two separate attacks against two girls in Hampshire.
The trial at Southampton crown court heard that the girls were raped in two separate attacks, the first on 26 November 2024 and the second on 17 January 2025. The victims, both 16, were left shaken by the ordeal and are now calling for the judge's decision to be reconsidered.
The decision has sparked outrage among campaigners and victims' groups, who argue that the boys' sentences do not reflect the severity of the crimes. 'This is a slap in the face for victims of rape,' said a spokesperson for a leading victims' charity. 'The fact that the boys were not given a custodial sentence is a betrayal of the trust that victims place in the justice system.'
The judge's decision is being seen as a significant setback for those campaigning for tougher sentences for perpetrators of rape. 'This decision sends a message that rape is not taken seriously by the justice system,' said a leading campaigner. 'We will be working to ensure that the victims' voices are heard and that justice is served.'