Teenage rapists who filmed attacks on girls, 14 and 15, fined just £26 each

Three teenage boys who avoided jail after being found guilty of rape and serious sexual assault against girls as young as 14 have each received just £26 fines.

The teens also received rehabilitation orders, prompting outrage from victims and campaigners demanding urgent reform of youth sentencing.

The cases, which occurred over the past year across north-east England, were handled under youth court procedures that prioritise rehabilitation over punishment for offenders aged 17 or younger.

One survivor, who was raped aged 15, said: "It feels like he just got away with it."

She expressed fear about encountering her attacker and warned such minimal penalties would create a sense of impunity among boys who pose a danger to women and girls.

Campaigners have branded the £26 penalty — which represents only the court fee — as less than a parking fine and utterly derisory.

At Teesside Magistrates' Court in December 2025, a boy who was 14 when he committed his offences received sentencing for three separate attacks.

He had been convicted of raping a victim aged 16 or over in August 2023, sexually assaulting another victim by penetration that same month, and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in February 2023.

His punishment comprised a youth rehabilitation order, the £26 court fee, and 30 months on the sex offenders register.

A second case involved a 15-year-old boy found guilty of sexual assault by penetration against a 14-year-old girl in April 2024.

Having been sentenced in July 2025, he received 42 months on the register, a rehabilitation order, the £26 fine, and a restraining order.

The third offender, aged 17, was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl and sentenced in September 2025.

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Now aged 18, he received identical penalties to the first case.

The victim in the third case, who is now 16, told The Guardian her attacker should have faced imprisonment.

"I didn't feel as though the punishment given was justice for me and what happened," she said. "He is still able to live his life normally and do what he wants.

"This isn't a deterrent for others. Boys think they can do what they want so they make bad choices and take bad actions."

She explained a custodial sentence would have forced him to reflect on his actions and prevented him from harming others.

The teenager, who knew her rapist, said his release had compounded her trauma. "I am worried about bumping into this person and I am worried for other people in case he does this again after no real consequence," she said.

She added: "I am constantly looking over my shoulder. I trust people less because of this."

These cases emerged only because victim advocates from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre covering Darlington and County Durham witnessed the sentencing while supporting survivors.

Youth courts typically operate behind closed doors, shielded from press and public scrutiny.

Isabel Owens, RSACC's chief executive, said: "We are deeply concerned about the trend we are seeing towards more lenient consequences for young perpetrators' actions and the impact this may have on behaviours and reporting rates in future."

Leonie Hodge, of Justice Is Now, condemned the penalties as insulting. "You would be charged more for a parking ticket than for rape. A £26 fine for rape is laughable and insulting to the public who put trust and faith and taxes into a system which is not protecting these girls," she said.

Public anger had already erupted last week over a separate case in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, where three teenage boys received youth rehabilitation orders after two were convicted of rape and one of involvement in attacks on girls aged 14 and 15.

Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, has referred those sentences to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describing the case as "appalling".

The Ministry of Justice declined to comment on individual cases but stated that punishments must match the severity of crimes and custody should always be considered for serious offences.

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