Fordingbridge child rapists given custodial sentence at the Court of Appeal

In a statement read following the Court of Appeal’s decision, barrister Charlotte Kuruman said the family of victim C1 – known as Jazmin (not her real name) – had lived through a “nightmare no family should have to endure”.

He added, “Today’s verdict cannot erase the suffering our daughter suffered, but it confirms the gravity of these crimes.”

She read Jazmin’s words, “I feel like I’m the one who’s been convicted, I feel like I’m the one who’s been in jail even though I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“I’m so traumatized by what happened to me that I don’t think I’ll ever be the same,” she said.

The statement continued: “We would also like to thank Laura Queensberg and the BBC for giving us a platform to be heard. Attorney-General Lord Hermer for quickly recognizing the importance of this appeal.”

Victim C2’s family said the initial verdicts were “devastating”.

“(They) felt that the damage done to our daughter was not fully understood.

“While no amount of punishment can compensate for the harm she suffered, today’s decision gives us a great sense that justice has been served and that the perpetrators will be held accountable.

“We are extremely proud of our son’s courage and strength during this long and difficult process.”

Warning: This story contains details that some may find disturbing

At the time of the rape, X and Y were 14 and Z was 13. Between them they have been convicted of 10 counts of rape.

Judge Nicholas Rowland handed down the initial sentences at Southampton Crown Court in May.There was an outcry by the girls and their families as well as politicians. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described it as a “tragic case”..

In her statement, Rowland said she conducted a careful sentencing exercise but the non-custodial sentences imposed on X and Y were “unreasonably lenient” because they did not fully take into account the psychological damage they had caused to both victims.

Rowland had given X and Y three-year Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YRO) with 180 days of strict supervision and supervision.

Z, now 14 years old, has been granted an 18 month YRO.

All three boys were given a three-month curfew and a 10-year restraining order against their victims.

One of the girls – C1 – was 15 when she was raped by X and Y on an underpass near the River Fordingbridge in November 2024. Parts of the rape were filmed.

The second girl – C2, aged 14 – was raped by X and Y at a leisure center in Fordingbridge in January 2025. There was some consensual intercourse before the rape started again, and again some rape was filmed, this time by the boy Z.

During the appeal hearing, Lady Chief Justice Sukar criticized the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for issuing an inaccurate press release suggesting that Knives was involved in the rape.