Three teenage boys convicted of the rape and serious sexual assault of girls as young as 14 were given rehabilitation orders and ordered to pay £26 in court fees, the Guardian has learned. The cases, all from north-east England over the past year, were tried under youth court rules that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment.
Victims Speak Out
One victim, aged 15 at the time of the rape, said: "It feels like he just got away with it." She added she was "scared" of encountering her attacker and feared such sentences embolden dangerous individuals. Another victim, now 16, stated: "I didn’t feel as though the punishment given was justice for me." She argued that imprisonment would force reflection and protect others.
Details of the Cases
- Case 1: A 14-year-old boy was found guilty of raping a victim aged 16 or over (August 2023), sexual assault by penetration (August 2023), and sexual assault of a 15-year-old (February 2023). Sentenced in December 2025 to a youth rehabilitation order and 30 months on the sex offenders register.
- Case 2: A 15-year-old boy convicted of sexual assault by penetration against a 14-year-old girl in April 2024. Sentenced in July 2025 to a rehabilitation order, 42 months on the register, and a restraining order.
- Case 3: A 17-year-old (now 18) convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl. Sentenced in September 2025 to a rehabilitation order and 30 months on the register.
The £26 fee is a standard charge for all youth defendants receiving a rehabilitation order, regardless of the offence.
Outrage and Calls for Change
Leonie Hodge of Justice Is Now said: "You would be charged more for a parking ticket than for rape. A £26 fee for rape is laughable and insulting." Isabel Owens, CEO of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (RSACC), expressed deep concern over the trend towards lenient consequences, warning it may deter reporting and undermine justice.
The cases came to light because RSACC advocates witnessed the sentences and were horrified. They raised concerns within the justice system but saw little action. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Sentencing decisions are made by independent judges in line with guidelines. Custody should always be considered for serious offences."
Stephanie Roberts-Bibby of the Youth Justice Board emphasized the need for balance: "The response must balance accountability, public protection, victim harm, deterrence, and preventing future violence."
Public anger has been fueled by a similar case in Hampshire, where three teenage boys received youth rehabilitation orders for raping two girls aged 14 and 15. The Attorney General referred those sentences to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling the case "appalling."
