The intervention of the Attorney General has resulted in harsher sentences for two teenage boys convicted of raping two girls in Fordingbridge, with a judge ruling that their original punishments did not adequately reflect the gravity of the offences. The decision, made under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, replaces the initial Youth Rehabilitation Orders with four-year Detention and Training Orders.
The Court of Appeal's judgment on 2nd July 2026 comes after Richard Hermer KC, the Attorney General, argued that the original sentences did not sufficiently acknowledge the severity of the crimes. In addition to the increased custodial sentences, indefinite restraining orders have been imposed to prevent any contact with the victims.
The details of the case reveal two separate incidents of rape, which were both filmed and shared online. The first incident occurred on 26th November 2024, when a 15-year-old girl was led to an underpass in Fordingbridge and raped by two of the offenders while a third watched. She was also threatened and warned against reporting the abuse.
The three boys were later convicted of raping a second victim, a 14-year-old girl, on 17th January 2025. This attack was also filmed. The victims' personal statements highlighted the profound impact of the abuse; the 15-year-old described significant emotional and physical distress, while the 14-year-old reported severe emotional distress, ongoing anxiety, and negative effects on her school attendance.
The Attorney General has welcomed the increased sentences, stating that rape is a 'horrifying crime' that the justice system must punish severely. He commended the bravery of the victims in coming forward and campaigning for justice, reiterating the government's commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.
The original sentences handed down at Southampton Crown Court on 21st May 2026 had included three-year Youth Rehabilitation Orders for two 15-year-old boys and an eighteen-month Youth Rehabilitation Order for a 14-year-old boy, along with ten-year restraining orders. These initial sentences sparked public concern, leading to the Attorney General's referral to the Court of Appeal.