Rape Victims Speak Out, Demand Harsher Sentences

The 15-year-old girl, one of the two schoolgirls raped by three teenage traveller boys, has spoken out about the horrific attacks that continue to haunt her. Despite the brutal nature of the assaults , the boys were handed youth rehabilitation orders, sparking public outrage and multiple referrals to the Attorney General.

In an interview with BBC Newsnight, the 15-year-old girl expressed her frustration with the lenient sentences,stating , 'Why would you avoid criminalising someone who has done a criminal act? They did it, they need to understand that their actions do have consequences and they can't just get away with not being criminalised .'

Victims' Families Call for Harsher Penalties

The girl's father, expressing the family's anger over the sentences , called for the boys to be given a custodial sentence of at least two years. He stated, 'I feel they have to have something in there, going forwards, that impacts them for life. This will cause a lifelong impact on my daughter and the family . This isn't going away five years, 10 years. This is a life sentence for her.'

The girl's mother called for the boys to be placed on the sex offenders register for life, stating, 'They knew what they were doing, they did it twice.'

Attorney General Referral: A Glimmer of Hope

Public outcry forced Attorney General Richard Hermer KC to refer the sentences to the Court of Appeal , which will now consider whether the boys' sentences should be increased, potentially leading to prison time. This decision comes amidst a broader context of an epidemic of violence against women and girls in the UK, as acknowledged by Sir Keir Starmer.

Unanswered Questions: What Next for the Victims?

While the referral to the Court of Appeal offers a glimmer of hope for the victims and their families, many questions remain unanswered. Will the boys' sentences be increased? What support will be provided to the victims and their families? And most importantly, will justice truly be served?