Court of appeal to review rape sentences of teenage boys

The court of appeal will review the non-custodial sentences given to three teenage boys for the rape of two girls, Keir Starmer has announced. The boys, two of whom were 15 and one aged 14 at the time of sentencing, were given youth rehabilitation orders after the judge in the case said he wanted to “avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily” and support their reintegration into society. The decision prompted a public outcry, with the MP Jess Phillips, the former minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, claiming the sentences were “unduly lenient” and sent a “bad message”. One of the victims said the outcome felt like a “rock straight in my face” . The office of the attorney general, Richard Hermer KC, previously said it had received multiple complaints about the judge’s decision under the unduly lenient sentences scheme. The prime minister said on Tuesday that it had been decided to refer the decision to the court of appeal, which will review the sentences to determine whether they are appropriate. Starmer said the case was “really distressing” and that the courage of the girls who came forward about it was humbling. “I think it’s distressing for everybody to see, to hear about,” he said. “The courage, frankly, of the girls to come forward is humbling, but it is distressing. I find it distressing as a politician. …