Attorney General Lord Hermer Refers Fordingbridge Teen Rape Sentences to Court of Appeal
Attorney General Lord Hermer stated he harboured “no doubt” regarding the necessity of referring the sentences of three teenage boys, convicted of raping two girls, to the Court of Appeal. The initial sentences, which spared the boys custodial terms, ignited significant public criticism, with one victim describing the judgement as “a rock in my face”.
The incidents involved two 14-year-old boys raping girls, then aged 15 and 14, in separate attacks in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, during November 2024 and January 2025. A third boy, then 13, was also convicted for his involvement in the second assault.
Lord Hermer clarified his rationale, stating, “I was in no doubt that it was a sentence that I felt had to be referred to the Court of Appeal.” Judge Nicholas Rowland had issued youth rehabilitation orders (YRO) to the boys, citing a desire to avoid “criminalising” the “very young” and commending their conduct throughout the trial. The boys, whose identities remain protected due to their age, had denied the charges but were found guilty following a March trial at Southampton Crown Court.
The Sentencing Council for England and Wales guidelines indicate that in cases involving children, rehabilitation should be prioritised, and custody should be a last resort. However, one victim's father highlighted the “lifelong impact” on his daughter, with the girl herself expressing a desire “to be able to go on a walk without being scared”.
Lord Hermer emphasised his immediate action upon learning of the sentences, stating he “wanted to know the detail as quickly as possible so I could make a decision as quickly as possible” to alleviate the “uncertainty…hanging over” the victims. He commended “the bravery of those girls” for enduring the trial and continuing “to carry on campaigning to secure justice” after the initial sentencing.
Under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, members of the public can request the Attorney General review sentences. If the Attorney General and legal experts deem a sentence significantly outside established guidelines, the case proceeds to the Court of Appeal for review by senior judges.
