Gisèle Pelicot ‘deeply shocked’ teenage boys avoided jail in rape case

• Gisèle Pelicot, a French rape survivor, said she is “deeply shocked” that three teenage boys avoided jail sentences for raping two young girls in Hampshire.
• The victims, then aged 15 and 14, were raped in two separate incidents in Fordingbridge by two 15-year-olds, with a third 14-year-old charged with encouraging one defendant.
• The judge issued youth rehabilitation orders, stating a desire to avoid “criminalising” the “very young” boys, a decision one victim described as “a rock straight in my face”.
• The case has been referred to the Court of Appeal for review under the unduly lenient scheme by Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer.
• Political figures, including Sir Keir Starmer and the Prime Minister, have condemned the sentences, emphasising the need for justice and the bravery of the victims.

IN FULL

Gisèle Pelicot says she is ‘deeply shocked’ by decision not to jail boys in Hampshire rape case