The vast majority of teenage rapists have been spared prison in the last five years.
Nearly three out of every four under-18s convicted of rape have avoided immediate custody, and the remainder have been given some form of community punishment.
Sir Keir Starmer described the sentences handed down to two 15-year-old boys and one 14-year-old boy for raping two girls were "appalling".
In the Hampshire case, the two older boys were given three-year rehabilitation orders with intensive supervision and surveillance, with the younger boy given an 18-month rehabilitation order.
But official Ministry of Justice statistics have suggested the teenage offenders being spared jail over rape is not an isolated case.
Between 2021 and 2025, a total of 284 children aged between 10 and 17 were sentenced for rape offences.
But only 81 were jailed immediately, figures have shown.
In total, 203 convicted child rapists who avoided immediate custody.
The victim's parents have criticised David Lammy's proposed reforms to youth justice | GETTYAnd in 2025 alone, 70 young rape offenders were sentenced and only 17 received immediate detention.
From 2021 to 2025, there were 30 children aged between 12 and 14 convicted of rape.
Only one of these offenders received immediate custody, with the rest given community punishments.
Of the teen rapists who were jailed, the average sentence was only five years.
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Lord Hermer has now referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme
| PAAttorney General Lord Hermer has now referred the Hampshire case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
One of the teenaged victims told The Times she is now scared to leave her home over fears she would run into her attackers.
Judge Nicholas Rowland told Southampton Crown Court he wanted to "avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily" and "support their reintegration into society".
And the Sentencing Council for England and Wales said even in very serious cases, courts are expected to prioritise rehabilitation for children and use custody as a last resort.
But one of the victim's fathers has called for custodial sentences to be given to the boys.
He said: "If they are given a custodial sentence, obviously it’s not going to be a life sentence. But I want to see the justice system do something that will impact them for life because this impacts her for life."
He told the BBC there was a focus on the boys while in court.
"These are some of the worst crimes anyone can do and they've repeatedly done it, so there has to be consequences for actions," the father added.
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