Keir Starmer says rape of two girls by boys spared custody 'appalling'
Summary
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the decision to give community sentences instead of jail time to three teenage boys convicted of raping two girls "appalling." The boys, aged 13 and 14, received Youth Rehabilitation Orders, and their sentences are now being reviewed by the attorney general.Key Facts
- Two girls, aged 14 and 15, were raped by three boys aged 13 and 14 in Hampshire in late 2024 and early 2025.
- The boys filmed the assaults and shared some footage online.
- A judge gave the boys Youth Rehabilitation Orders (community punishments) instead of jail time, aiming not to criminalize them unnecessarily.
- One victim described the sentences as like a "rock straight in my face" and wants jail sentences instead.
- Prime Minister Starmer praised the girls' bravery and said the sentences are being urgently reviewed by the attorney general.
- The attorney general has up to 28 days to decide whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.
- The boys’ sentences include community supervision and restrictions but no custody, which for under-18s means secure centers, not prisons.
- Cabinet Minister Darren Jones said the decision would be made quickly to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
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