The Court of Appeal is currently deciding if the community-based sentences given to three minors convicted of multiple rape offenses were too lenient.

上訴法院目前正在決定，三名被裁定犯下多項強姦罪的未成年人，其獲得的社區矯正判刑是否過輕。

The case began after a May decision by Judge Nicholas Rowland at Southampton Crown Court. Three defendants, known as X, Y, and Z, were convicted of ten rape offenses against two girls aged 14 and 15. These crimes took place between November 2024 and January 2025 in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. Instead of prison, the judge gave them Youth Rehabilitation Orders (YROs): three-year terms for X and Y, and an 18-month term for Z. These sentences included supervision, three-month curfews, and ten-year restraining orders. Judge Rowland explained that he avoided prison because legal guidelines state that detention should be a last resort for children, as the goal is to prevent further crime and protect the defendants' welfare.

本案始於南安普敦刑事法院法官 Nicholas Rowland 於五月作出的決定。三名被告（代號為 X、Y 及 Z）被裁定對兩名 14 歲及 15 歲女孩犯下十項強姦罪。這些罪行發生於 2024 年 11 月至 2025 年 1 月期間，地點位於漢普郡的 Fordingbridge。法官並未判處監禁，而是給予「青少年康復令」(YROs)：X 與 Y 為三年期，Z 為 18 個月期。這些判刑包括監督、三個月的宵禁以及十年的禁制令。Rowland 法官解釋，他避免判處監禁是因為法律指南規定，對於兒童而言，拘留應作為最後手段，因為目標在於防止進一步犯罪並保護被告的福利。

However, Lord Hermer, the lawyer for the Attorney General, argued that the crimes were so serious that the defendants should have been detained. He asserted that the judge did not properly consider the severe psychological harm caused to the victims. On the other hand, the defense argued that the sentences followed the law regarding juvenile justice. The lawyer for defendant Y emphasized that the client has significant cognitive impairments, including a very low IQ and a limited understanding of consent. Furthermore, the defense claimed that public opinion was negatively affected by an incorrect press release from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

然而，代表總檢察長的律師 Lord Hermer 主張，由於罪行極其嚴重，被告應被拘留。他認定法官未能適當地考慮受害者所遭受的嚴重心理傷害。另一方面，辯方則主張判刑符合少年司法的法律。被告 Y 的律師強調，其當事人有顯著的認知障礙，包括極低的 IQ 以及對「同意」的理解有限。此外，辯方聲稱皇家檢察署 (CPS) 發布的一份錯誤新聞稿對公眾輿論產生了負面影響。

During the hearing, Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr criticized the CPS for spreading false information. Specifically, a press release wrongly suggested that a weapon was used during the attacks. The court expressed concern that the CPS took too long to correct this mistake, which had led to strong public and political criticism, including comments from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

在聆訊期間，首席法官 Sue Carr 批評 CPS 傳播虛假信息。具體而言，一份新聞稿錯誤地暗示攻擊過程中使用了武器。法院對 CPS 花費過多時間才修正此錯誤表示關注，這已導致強烈的公眾與政治批評，包括首相 Sir Keir Starmer 的評論。

The Court of Appeal is now considering whether the original sentences were appropriate, and a final decision will be delivered via videolink to the defendants.

上訴法院目前正在考慮原判是否適當，最終決定將透過視訊連線通知被告。