Rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot has said she is “deeply shocked” that three teenage boys have avoided jail sentences after raping two young girls in Hampshire.
The 73-year-old French woman testified against her husband Dominique Pelicot, after he repeatedly drugged her and invited dozens of men to rape her in a case that shocked both France and the world.
Having waived her own anonymity, Ms Pelicot “saluted the strength” of one of the girls for speaking out after the attack.
The victims, then aged 15 and 14, were raped in two separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, by two 15-year-olds, while a third 14-year-old was charged with encouraging one of the other defendants.
The three teenage boys received youth rehabilitation order sentences, after the judge said he wanted to avoid “criminalising” the “very young” boys. Their case has now been referred to the Court of Appeal after a review under the unduly lenient scheme.
One of their victims told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “The words hit like a rock straight in my face.
“He (the judge) almost made it seem as if what the boys did was not OK, but it was OK in the eyes of the law because they were still children.”
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Pelicot said she was “deeply shocked that these individuals were in fact able to gain their freedom again when in fact the victims are suffering so hard they will never be able to heal”.
She added she hoped her own story “was useful for her to make that decision” to come forward.
“I really salute her strength and the decision she made, because I know that it’s an incredibly difficult decision,” she said.
Sir Keir Starmer said it is “right” that their sentences are being urgently reviewed, and described it as an “appalling case”.
In a post on X after the victim’s BBC interview, the prime minister said: “This is a harrowing and brave testimony.
“The girls at the heart of this case have shown extraordinary bravery and strength in heinous circumstances.
“This is an appalling case and it is right that law officers are urgently reviewing the sentences.”
The chief secretary to the prime minister told the BBC: “Those girls deserve justice, as do their families, both for them, but also for other girls that are put in that position.
“And quite frankly, other boys need to know that they can’t behave in that way and get away with it.”
Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer has referred the case to the Court of Appeal after finding it to be too lenient.
Asked about the outcome during a visit to East Sussex on Tuesday, Sir Keir said: “I think it’s distressing for everybody to see, to hear about. He added he had found it “distressing as a politician” and “as a father”.
Veronica Oakeshott, Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, said: “Women’s Aid applauds the bravery of the girls who spoke up and reported their horrific experiences of rape at the hands of teenage boys in Hampshire.
“It is absolutely vital that these abhorrent crimes are treated with the seriousness they deserve and that their victims see justice delivered.
“We hope that the Attorney General’s sentencing review will reflect the impact of the grave and deeply disturbing actions of these boys on their young victims. We must be clear in our message to boys across the country that there is no place for violence against women and girls in our society.
“It’s time to break free from the all-too-common tendency to minimise the harm that such violence causes to individuals and to the freedoms of women and girls more broadly.”
Jodie Mittel KC, prosecuting, told the trial one of the girls, who was 15 at the time, had visited one of the defendants in November 2024 after meeting him on Snapchat.
The prosecutor said that after performing sex acts on the boy, who was then 14, she became “scared and anxious” when the second defendant arrived, and the pair raped her while the incident was filmed.
Ms Mittel said that afterwards, videos of the incident had been sent around and other people made jokes about the girl, and she received messages calling her a “slag”.
The girl told the BBC she “wanted to die” when she received such messages.
The second complainant was 14 when she was raped in a field near to Fordingbridge recreation ground in January 2025 while the incident was also filmed.
Sarah Owen MP, chair of the women and equalities committee, told The Independent: “This harrowing case not only needs to be reviewed as soon as possible, but also the process that has allowed boys found guilty of rape, videoing and sharing that rape being allowed off with a non-custodial sentence.
“To victims of rape and sexual assault, this is not what justice looks like. With so few reports of rape even making it to court, this leniency also sends a very dangerous message to perpetrators of sexual violence.”
She added it was “heartbreaking” that the girls have suffered only to have a judge “who appeared more concerned with the future of the rapists than they did the victims”.
Jess Phillips said she thinks its right the case is being reviewed, adding: “Its important not just for justice in these cases but also for message it sends to both boys and girls more broadly.
“I also think the case highlights how important early intervention with kids who go on to perpetrate these crimes and the need for regulation on social media and safety of the devices every parent gets their kid age 10.”
