Boy rapists given custody sentences by Court of Appeal

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Boy rapists given custody sentences by Court of AppealImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Court of Appeal quashed the initial sentences for two of the offendersByDaniel Sandford, UK correspondent and Curtis Lancaster, South of EnglandPublished2 July 2026, 16:06 BSTUpdated 13 minutes agoTwo 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".

In a statement read out after the hearing, the family of one of the victims said "justice has finally been done". Figure caption, One of the girls was raped in an underpass near the River Avon in FordingbridgeA 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.

The Details

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.

What Experts Say

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.

"Image source, Crown Prosecution ServiceImage caption, The second girl was 14 when she was raped in a field at Fordingbridge Recreation GroundIn a statement read out by barrister Charlotte Proudman following the appeal court ruling, the family of victim C1 - who has been referred to as Jazmine (not her real name) - said that they had lived through "a nightmare that no family should ever have to endure". They added: "Today's judgement cannot erase what our daughter has suffered but it does acknowledge the seriousness of these offences.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.