A teenage girl whose rapists were spared jail has said she is scared to go on a walk for fear she might run into her attackers.
The girl was one of two victims raped in separate instances in Fordingbridge, Hampshire.
Three teenage boys were convicted in relation to the attacks, but were not sentenced to prison time as the judge presiding over the case said he would avoid ‘criminalising’ them.
But the girl’s father has said she is now suffering from the ‘lifelong impact’ of the attack. ‘This is a life sentence for her,’ he said.
The sentences are now being referred to the Court of Appeal after the judge gave the perpetrators youth rehabilitation orders.
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Meanwhile, the girl, who was 14 at the time of the January 2025 attack, told BBC Newsnight: ‘I just want to be able to go on a walk without being scared that I’m going to see them and they’re gonna try to do something again.’
She added that she can’t sleep at night and suffers ‘vivid flashbacks’ following the incident. Her attendance at school is also very low.
‘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.’
The victim met the boys in January 2025 at Fordingbridge Recreation Ground, where she was repeatedly raped.
One of the attackers cut her clothes with a knife and pushed her down before the assault.
Another girl, then aged 15, was raped in a separate incident in November 2024 by the two boys, then aged 14. Both incidents were filmed.
The three boys, who cannot be named because of their age, were found guilty of a combined 10 rape convictions in March following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.
Explaining his sentencing decision, Judge Nicholas Rowland said: ‘I should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily and understand the effects of their behaviour and support their reintegration into society.’
He added: ‘None of you need to go to prison today.’
The two older boys, now 15, were given three-year Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YRO) with 180 days of intensive surveillance and supervision.
The third boy, now 14, was given an 18-month YRO.
All three were also given three-month curfews and a restraining order for 10 years not to contact their victims.
However, the cases will now be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.
Earlier this week, Attorney General Lord Hermer said: ‘There has understandably been a huge amount of public interest and concern at this horrific case.
‘I directed my officials to work urgently to allow me to consider this decision swiftly, and to begin to bring closure to the victims and their families.’
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: ‘I think it’s distressing for everybody to see, to hear about. There are questions about the sentence.
‘The Attorney General has the power to refer a case to the Court of Appeal if the Attorney General thinks that the sentence is too lenient.’