Three teenage boys convicted of raping and seriously sexually assaulting girls as young as 14 were given rehabilitation orders and ordered to pay £26 in court fees, the Guardian has learned.
The three separate cases all took place over the past year in north-east England. They were handled under youth court rules, which apply to suspects aged 17 or under and focus more on rehabilitation than adult courts do.
One victim, who was 15 when she was raped, said: “It feels like he just got away with it.” She added that she was “scared” she might run into her attacker, and that sentences like this give boys like him—who pose a danger to women and girls—a sense of impunity.
One justice group said the £26 fee was less than a parking fine. In one case, a boy avoided prison even after being found guilty of three attacks, including a rape.
There was public anger last week over a case in southern England, where three teenage boys received youth rehabilitation orders after two were convicted of rape and one was convicted of involvement in the attacks. The victims were two girls, aged 15 and 14, who were attacked in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire.
Those sentences have been referred to the Court of Appeal by the attorney general, the government’s top law officer, for being unduly lenient. Keir Starmer called the case “appalling.”
Youth courts are usually closed to the press and the public. But specialist advisers to the young girls in these three newly revealed cases were so shocked by the sentences that they decided to expose what they see as overly lenient punishments being handed down in youth courts for serious sexual offences.
A UK judge’s decision not to jail boys for rape felt like a ‘rock in my face,’ says victim, 16. Read more.
In one case, a boy who was 14 at the time of his offences was found guilty of raping a victim aged 16 or over in August 2023, as well as sexual assault by penetration in August 2023 and the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in February 2023.
He was sentenced under youth court rules at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on 4 December 2025. He received a youth rehabilitation order and was placed on the sex offenders register for 30 months.
In another case, a 15-year-old boy was convicted of a serious sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl. He was found guilty of sexual assault by penetration in April 2024.
He was sentenced in July 2025, placed on the sex offender register for 42 months, and given a youth rehabilitation order and a restraining order preventing him from approaching or contacting the victim.
In another case, a 17-year-old male was sentenced in September 2025 after being convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl. He received a youth rehabilitation order and was placed on the sex offender register for 30 months. The convicted rapist turned 18 this month.
The £26 fee is applied to all youth defendants who receive a youth rehabilitation order, no matter what offence they committed.
The victim in that case, now 16, told the Guardian her attacker should have been jailed. “I didn’t feel like the punishment was justice for me or for what happened. He can still live his life normally and do whatever he wants. This doesn’t stop others. Boys think they can do whatever they want, so they make bad choices and take bad actions.”
Explaining why she believed prison was the right sentence, she said: “That way, he would have time to think about what he did, and it would mean this wouldn’t happen to anyone else because of him.”
She was 15 when attacked by the boy, whom she knew, and said her rapist being freed by the court despite being convicted added to her ongoing trauma. “I’m worried about running into this person, and I’m worried for other people in case he does this again with no real consequences,” she said.
“I don’t know where he is or what he’s doing. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. I trust people less because of this.”
She added: “It would be good for the public to know the emotional struggles this has caused and to understand the impact it has.”As a young person, she said her attacker made a choice to rape her and should be on the sex offender register for life, not just 30 months.
These cases only came to light because official victim advocates from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (RSACC), which covers Darlington and County Durham, were in court supporting the victims. They were horrified by the sentences they witnessed.
They first raised concerns within the criminal justice system but said there was little or no sign of action. They believe urgent, radical change is needed.
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Isabel Owens, the chief executive of RSACC, said: “It takes incredible bravery for a survivor of sexual violence to report what happened to them.
“We are deeply concerned about the trend we are seeing towards more lenient consequences for young perpetrators’ actions and the impact this may have on future behaviour and reporting rates.
“The survivors who have experienced these outcomes say they feel hopeless and worry for other young people who might become victims of individuals who are not being held meaningfully accountable. They are rightly questioning whether reporting to the police and going through the process is worth it.”
Leonie Hodge of Justice Is Now, which campaigns for survivors of sexual violence, said: “You would be charged more for a parking ticket than for rape. A £26 fee for rape is laughable and insulting to the public, who put their trust, faith, and taxes into a system that is not protecting these girls. This is pure impunity for the attackers.
“Teenagers raping other teenagers should not become a socially accepted norm. We fear it is.”
Victims of sexual violence are granted lifelong anonymity by law. Those convicted in youth courts, because of their young age, also have anonymity.
The Ministry of Justice neither condemned nor justified the sentences, saying they do not comment on individual cases. “Sentencing decisions are made by independent judges in line with sentencing guidelines,” a spokesperson said.
“We are clear that punishments must fit the severity of the crime, and custody should always be considered for serious offences. This government is determined to do all we can to make sure victims have confidence they will get justice.”
Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, the chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, said: “It is also important that individual judges and frontline youth justice services are not unfairly criticised for applying the legal framework and the evidence they are required to consider in such cases.
“Nevertheless, confidence in the justice system matters, particularly in cases involving violence against women and girls, and it is essential that public concern is not dismissed.
“The overwhelming majority of children do not commit offences of this seriousness. But where they do, the response must balance accountability, public protection, victim harm, deterrence, and the long-term goal of preventing future violence.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the news topic you provided written in a natural tone with clear direct answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is this case about
Its about a group of teenage boys in northeast England who were found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting girls Despite the severity of the crimes they were given sentences that do not involve immediate prison time
2 Why didnt they go to jail
The judge decided that because of their young age and other factors in their background reports a detention sentence was not appropriate Instead they received communitybased punishments like a Youth Rehabilitation Order
3 How old were the boys
The boys were teenagers with reports indicating they were between 14 and 16 years old at the time of the offences
4 What exactly did they do
The court found them guilty of serious sexual offences including rape and sexual assault against multiple underage girls
5 What punishment did they get instead of jail
They received Youth Rehabilitation Orders This means they are under supervision of the youth offending team must follow strict rules and could be sent to jail if they break those rules
Advanced Questions
6 What is a Youth Rehabilitation Order
Its a community sentence for young offenders in England and Wales It can include requirements like unpaid work electronic tagging curfews drug treatment or attending a sexual offender treatment programme It is designed to rehabilitate rather than punish in a custodial setting
7 How is this different from an adult sentence
Adult sentences for rape typically carry long prison terms The youth justice system focuses more on rehabilitation and the offenders capacity for change especially for under18s Sentences are shorter and more focused on supervision and treatment
8 Was there public anger about the sentences
Yes Many people including victims families and campaign groups expressed anger and frustration They argued that the sentences were too lenient for such serious crimes and did not reflect the harm done to the victims
9 Can the sentences be appealed
Yes The Attorney General can refer unduly lenient sentences to the Court of Appeal to be reviewed The victims or the public can also request a review
