A girl who was raped by teenage boys who avoided a prison sentence has described suffering from 'vivid flashbacks' and being unable to sleep at night, while her father says she is 'still living this nightmare'.
Attack and Sentencing
The attacks took place in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. Two 15-year-old boys were given non-custodial sentences after raping two girls. A judge at Southampton Crown Court said he wanted to 'avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily'. A third boy, now aged 14, was also convicted for his involvement in the second attack and an indecent images offence.
Victim's Account
One of the victims, now 15, told BBC Newsnight: 'Why would you avoid criminalising someone who has done a criminal act? They did it, they need to understand that their actions do have consequences and they can’t just get away with not being criminalised.'
She described the lasting trauma: 'I feel like no matter what I do, I can always feel their hands on me, no matter how much I’ve scrubbed, how much I’ve tried to get the feeling away it’s always there and it just doesn’t feel like my body anymore. I get really vivid, vivid flashbacks, but they can come at random times, any place, anywhere, sometimes without triggers as well. I don’t sleep at night, because I’m worried something’s going to happen. I struggle to get out of bed because I have no motivation to.'
The victim added that she was 'losing out on the potential I would have had if none of this had happened'.
Family's Response
The girl’s father said the family felt 'anger' over the sentences and that it was 'heartbreaking' to see his daughter’s confidence 'drop to a low'. He added: 'We have to put our faith in the justice system that they’re going to do right by us and that’s completely gone because they haven’t protected her. She’s still living this nightmare and will continue living it while they just carry on with their everyday lives.'
Government Intervention
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the 'distressing' case would be sent to the Court of Appeal for a review under the unduly lenient scheme.
