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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.<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She said the court had concluded that trial judge, Judge Nicholas Rowland, had “erred in his assessment of the seriousness of the offences”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“Yes, it’s better, but it’s not enough.<\/p>\n
“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. <\/p>\n
“Of course, it’s not enough, but it’s more than we had yet this morning. So, I have to be grateful.”<\/p>\n
A third boy who was also convicted of rape for his part in filming one of the attacks did not have his sentence changed.<\/p>\n
The initial sentences were referred to the court after they were called “unduly lenient” by Attorney General Lord Hermer.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Delivering the courts conclusions, Carr said “sentences of detention for X and Y were unavoidable”.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Carr made it clear that had the boys been adults, then sentences in excess of 10 years would have been required.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The pair were also handed a lifelong restraining order prohibiting them from contacting the victims.<\/p>\n
It is understood that the offenders will appeal the court’s updated sentencing.<\/p>\n
When addressing Z, Carr said: “What you did was also very bad.<\/p>\n
“We have decided that because you were very young … we do not need to change your sentence.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n