French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot has condemned the lenient sentencing of two teenage boys who filmed the rape of young girls in separate attacks in Hampshire, UK. The boys, aged 15 and 14, were given youth rehabilitation orders (YROs) with intensive supervision instead of prison time, sparking widespread outrage.
Pelicot's Reaction
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Pelicot, 73, said: ‘I was deeply shocked that these individuals were in fact able to gain their freedom again, when in fact the victims are suffering so hard they will never be able to heal.’ She praised one 16-year-old victim for coming forward, saying: ‘I really salute her strength and the decision she made, because I know that it's an incredibly difficult decision.’
The Crimes
The attacks occurred in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. On November 26, 2024, a girl met one defendant on Snapchat and was raped by two boys while being filmed. On January 17, 2025, a 14-year-old was raped in a field near Fordingbridge recreation ground, also filmed. Videos were shared, and the victims were subjected to harassment and derogatory messages.
Sentencing Details
At Southampton Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Rowland imposed YROs, stating: ‘I should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily and understand the effects of their behaviour and support their reintegration into society.’ A 15-year-old received a three-year YRO with 180 days of intensive supervision for two rapes and indecent images. Another 15-year-old got the same for three rapes and four indecent image counts. A 14-year-old received an 18-month YRO for two rapes and indecent images.
Outcry and Review
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the sentences ‘appalling’. The Attorney General is reviewing the decision under the Unduly Lenient Scheme after multiple requests. One victim described the ruling as ‘a rock straight in her face’. Pelicot, central to France's largest rape trial, hopes her case encourages victims to seek justice.
