Two boys convicted of raping two teenage girls in Fordingbridge, Hampshire have been given four years’ detention after their non-custodial sentences were overturned at the Court of Appeal.
Lady Chief Justice Baroness Sue Carr said the court had “no other choice but to change these sentences” when she addressed the boys, who joined the hearing via a video link from Southampton Crown Court.
She said the court had concluded that trial judge, Judge Nicholas Rowland, had “erred in his assessment of the seriousness of the offences”.
Speaking to the BBC the mother of one of the victims, who we are calling Jazmine, said that “nothing will ever be enough for the trauma” caused to her daughter.
“Yes, it’s better, but it’s not enough.
“How could any mother be happy with four years? Jazmine is going to live with a lifetime of trauma, and she’s going to live with a lifetime sentence.
“Of course, it’s not enough, but it’s more than we had yet this morning. So, I have to be grateful.”
A third boy who was also convicted of rape for his part in filming one of the attacks did not have his sentence changed.
The initial sentences were referred to the court after they were called “unduly lenient” by Attorney General Lord Hermer.
All the children in the case have been granted anonymity because of their young age – with the offenders referred to as X, Y and Z.
Delivering the courts conclusions, Carr said “sentences of detention for X and Y were unavoidable”.
“You both raped two girls on two different occasions. You were enjoying it and egging each other on. You made it worse by filming it,” she told them.
Carr made it clear that had the boys been adults, then sentences in excess of 10 years would have been required.
She said that both boys have already served 231 days on curfew which will count towards their sentence, meaning they will “not stay in detention” for the full four years.
The pair were also handed a lifelong restraining order prohibiting them from contacting the victims.
It is understood that the offenders will appeal the court’s updated sentencing.
When addressing Z, Carr said: “What you did was also very bad.
“We have decided that because you were very young … we do not need to change your sentence.”
