Three teenage boys have avoided jail and been handed fines of just £26 each after being convicted of rape and serious sexual assault against girls as young as 14, according to a report that has reignited scrutiny of the youth justice system.
Separate cases in the North East
The three cases, which occurred in the North East of England over the past year, were dealt with in Youth Courts where rehabilitation is prioritised for offenders aged 17 or under. The sentences have sparked outrage from victim support groups and campaigners, who describe the fines as "laughable" and less than the cost of a parking ticket.
Case details
In one case, a 14-year-old boy was found guilty of raping a victim aged 16 or over in August 2023, as well as sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. He was sentenced at Teesside Magistrates' Court on December 4, 2025, receiving a youth rehabilitation order, a £26 fine, and placement on the sex offenders register for 30 months.
In another case, a 15-year-old boy was convicted of sexual assault by penetration against a 14-year-old girl in April 2024. He was sentenced in July 2025, placed on the sex offender register for 42 months, given a youth rehabilitation order, fined £26, and issued a restraining order.
A third case involved a 17-year-old male sentenced in September 2025 for raping a 15-year-old girl. He received a youth rehabilitation order, a £26 fine, and a 30-month registration on the sex offenders register. The offender turned 18 this month.
Victims speak out
One victim, now 16, told the Guardian: "I didn't feel as though the punishment given was justice for me and what happened. He is still able to live his life normally and do what he wants. This isn't a deterrent for others." She added that she is constantly looking over her shoulder and fears her attacker will reoffend.
Another victim, who was 15 when raped, said: "It feels like he just got away with it." She expressed fear of encountering her attacker and said such sentences give dangerous boys a sense of impunity.
Campaigners condemn sentences
Leonie Hodge of Justice Is Now said: "You would be charged more for a parking ticket than for rape. A £26 fine for rape is laughable and insulting to the public. This is pure impunity for the attackers." She warned that teenagers raping other teenagers should not become a socially accepted norm.
Isabel Owens, chief executive of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (RSACC) covering Darlington and County Durham, said: "It takes incredible bravery for a survivor of sexual violence to report what has happened. We are deeply concerned about the trend towards more lenient consequences for young perpetrators."
Official response
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Sentencing decisions are made by independent judges in line with sentencing guidelines. We are clear that punishments must fit the severity of the crime, and custody should always be considered for serious offences."
Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, said: "It is important that individual judges and frontline youth justice services are not unfairly critiqued for applying the legal framework. Nevertheless, confidence in the justice system matters, particularly in cases involving violence against women and girls."
The cases were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General for being unduly lenient. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the earlier Fordingbridge case as "appalling."
