From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated


"Jeff Layman" <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:10up29o$1a17a$3@dont-email.me...

<https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/21/boys-convicted-of-get-non-custodial-sentences-as-judge-says-they-should-not-be-criminalised-unnecessarily>

That Guardian article misses a rather important point,

Really ?

quote:

Hampshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, said
the sentences "offer little comfort to their victims".

She added: "I'm deeply concerned these boys felt they could carry out such terrifying acts and share them online and not go to prison. Their
sentences reflect a clear focus on rehabilitation rather than criminalisation.

They are far too lenient."

:unquote

which is covered (or, I should say, is emphasised in its title)
by the equivalent BBC
article at <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypg68e2neo>

"Boys' sentences for 11 counts of rape 'too lenient'"

On the local TV news last night it was also pointed out that the attacks were
premeditated, something not noted in either of the above articles. Perhaps this can be confirmed (or not) when the transcript is published. If it is confirmed, would this not affect sentencing as an "aggravating factor"?

If this sentence does not go to appeal by the PCC something is wrong.

--
Jeff

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

On 22/05/2026 14:10, billy bookcase wrote:

"Jeff Layman" <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:10up29o$1a17a$3@dont-email.me...

<https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/21/boys-convicted-of-get-non-custodial-sentences-as-judge-says-they-should-not-be-criminalised-unnecessarily>

That Guardian article misses a rather important point,

Really ?

Yes. The Guardian's article makes no reference to 11 rapes. Reading it suggests there were only two rapes, each as an individual offence. Quote:

"The boys, who were aged between 13 and 14 at the time of their
offences, physically overpowered and sexually assaulted the girls, who
were aged 14 and 15, in separate incidents two months apart."

quote:

Hampshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, said
the sentences "offer little comfort to their victims".

She added: "I'm deeply concerned these boys felt they could carry out such terrifying acts and share them online and not go to prison. Their
sentences reflect a clear focus on rehabilitation rather than criminalisation.

They are far too lenient."

:unquote

which is covered (or, I should say, is emphasised in its title)
by the equivalent BBC
article at <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypg68e2neo>

"Boys' sentences for 11 counts of rape 'too lenient'"

On the local TV news last night it was also pointed out that the attacks were
premeditated, something not noted in either of the above articles. Perhaps >> this can be confirmed (or not) when the transcript is published. If it is
confirmed, would this not affect sentencing as an "aggravating factor"?

If this sentence does not go to appeal by the PCC something is wrong.

--
Jeff

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated


"Jeff Layman" <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:10uqdpc$1a179$2@dont-email.me...

On 22/05/2026 14:10, billy bookcase wrote:

"Jeff Layman" <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:10up29o$1a17a$3@dont-email.me...

<https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/21/boys-convicted-of-get-non-custodial-sentences-as-judge-says-they-should-not-be-criminalised-unnecessarily>

That Guardian article misses a rather important point,

Really ?

Yes. The Guardian's article makes no reference to 11 rapes. Reading it suggests there were only two rapes, each as an individual offence.

Really ?

Quote

One 15-year-old boy was convicted of three charges of rape against the two victims,

The victim was [...] raped by two of the boys in an underpass by the River
Avon in Fordingbridge

After she reported the assault to the police, an investigation identified that a
second victim, aged 15, had been raped in November 2024 by two of the
same defendants

Forced to leave her mobile phone and AirTag in a shop so her movements could not be tracked, she was made to walk to a secluded field, where she was
raped by two of the defendants as they filmed the incident.

They were convicted of rape even in circumstances where they aided and
abetted another boy to carry out an attack

unquote

And then there is this.

quote:

Hampshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, said the sentences "offer little comfort to their victims".

She added: "I'm deeply concerned these boys felt they could carry out such terrifying acts and share them online and not go to prison. Their sentences reflect a clear focus on rehabilitation rather than criminalisation. They are far too lenient."

The PCC added: "Should the victims and their families take the decision to appeal the sentences, I will offer my support."

:unquote

Given which, I must admit I still find myself struggling to identify
precisely which point it is, which you claim that the "Guardian" have so conspicuously missed

Apart that is, from the kind of sensationalist tabloid headline,
which are normally eschewed by more serious news organisations;
such as the BBC used to be. Who are content to allow their readers
to draw their own conclusions; once having fully familiarised
themselves with the facts.



bb

Quote:

"The boys, who were aged between 13 and 14 at the time of their offences, physically overpowered and sexually assaulted the girls, who were aged 14 and 15, in separate incidents two months apart."

quote:

Hampshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, said
the sentences "offer little comfort to their victims".

She added: "I'm deeply concerned these boys felt they could carry out such >> terrifying acts and share them online and not go to prison. Their
sentences reflect a clear focus on rehabilitation rather than
criminalisation.

They are far too lenient."

:unquote

which is covered (or, I should say, is emphasised in its title)
by the equivalent BBC
article at <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypg68e2neo>

"Boys' sentences for 11 counts of rape 'too lenient'"

On the local TV news last night it was also pointed out that the attacks >>> were
premeditated, something not noted in either of the above articles. Perhaps >>> this can be confirmed (or not) when the transcript is published. If it is >>> confirmed, would this not affect sentencing as an "aggravating factor"?

If this sentence does not go to appeal by the PCC something is wrong.

--
Jeff

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

On 23/05/2026 00:13, billy bookcase wrote:

"Jeff Layman" <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:10uqdpc$1a179$2@dont-email.me...

On 22/05/2026 14:10, billy bookcase wrote:

"Jeff Layman" <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:10up29o$1a17a$3@dont-email.me...

<https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/21/boys-convicted-of-get-non-custodial-sentences-as-judge-says-they-should-not-be-criminalised-unnecessarily>

That Guardian article misses a rather important point,

Really ?

Yes. The Guardian's article makes no reference to 11 rapes. Reading it
suggests there were only two rapes, each as an individual offence.

Really ?

Quote

One 15-year-old boy was convicted of three charges of rape against the two victims,

The victim was [...] raped by two of the boys in an underpass by the River Avon in Fordingbridge

After she reported the assault to the police, an investigation identified that a
second victim, aged 15, had been raped in November 2024 by two of the
same defendants

Forced to leave her mobile phone and AirTag in a shop so her movements could not be tracked, she was made to walk to a secluded field, where she was
raped by two of the defendants as they filmed the incident.

They were convicted of rape even in circumstances where they aided and abetted another boy to carry out an attack

unquote

And then there is this.

quote:

Hampshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, said the sentences "offer little comfort to their victims".

She added: "I'm deeply concerned these boys felt they could carry out such terrifying acts and share them online and not go to prison. Their sentences reflect a clear focus on rehabilitation rather than criminalisation. They are far too lenient."

The PCC added: "Should the victims and their families take the decision to appeal the sentences, I will offer my support."

:unquote

Given which, I must admit I still find myself struggling to identify precisely which point it is, which you claim that the "Guardian" have so conspicuously missed

Apart that is, from the kind of sensationalist tabloid headline,
which are normally eschewed by more serious news organisations;
such as the BBC used to be. Who are content to allow their readers
to draw their own conclusions; once having fully familiarised
themselves with the facts.

bb

I think that we're probably talking about the same thing, although the numbers, ie "the facts" weren't clear. It's been clarified by this
latest article:
<https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2x7wxjego>

"The first girl was 15 when she was raped three times in an underpass by
the River Avon in Fordingbridge.

She had travelled to meet one of the boys for the first time after he
had begun a "relationship" with her on social media platform Snapchat -
but then two other boys appeared.

The second girl was 14 when she met the boys at Fordingbridge Recreation Ground and was raped repeatedly in a nearby field."

It's the "repeatedly" which has been added and can now be assumed was
eight times. The sentence is going to be reviewed by the Attorney
General under the ULS scheme.
--
Jeff



--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2