French rape survivor Gisele Pelicot has expressed being "deeply shocked" after three teenage boys in England were spared custodial sentences for raping two young girls in Hampshire. The victims, aged 15 and 14 at the time, were attacked in Fordingbridge in November 2024 and January 2025. Two of the boys were 14 years old when they committed the rapes, while a third, aged 13, was convicted for his role in the second attack. All three have since grown older and now face a Youth Rehabilitation Order instead of time in a secure centre.
Pelicot's Reaction
Speaking to the BBC at the Hay Festival in Wales, Pelicot stated that the boys should not have been allowed to walk free while their victims continue to suffer. "Rape is a crime and justice has an essential role. It is there to name the crimes, to recognise the suffering of victims and to remember that they must not remain unpunished," she said.
Victim's Response
One of the victims, now 16, told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the sentencing felt like a "rock straight in my face." She described the outcome as a "slap on the wrist" and questioned why she had endured the pain of a full trial. Judge Nicholas Rowland at Southampton Crown Court handed the boys Youth Rehabilitation Orders last week, stating that courts should avoid "criminalising children unnecessarily" and stressed their very young ages as a factor. Under UK law, courts are required to treat custody as a last resort for those under 18.
Legal Action
The attorney general has referred the sentences to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing scheme. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the case as "appalling" and called the referral "clearly the right outcome."
Pelicot's Message
Pelicot, who became a symbol of courage after her husband Dominique Pelicot was jailed for 20 years in France for drugging her and inviting strangers to rape her, said she hoped her story had given the British victim strength to speak out. "I really salute her strength and the decision she made because I know that it is an incredibly difficult decision," she told BBC Breakfast. She also called on governments and technology companies to do more to protect victims after the boys shared video footage of the attacks on social media.
