We are pleased to announce that the mother and step-father of Jazmine, a teenage rape survivor whose three rapists were spared custodial sentences by Judge Nicholas Rowland, have joined our Breaking Bias, Building Justice campaign as ambassadors.
Three 15-year-olds boys were convicted of raping Jazmine and another girl in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, but were given non-custodial sentences by Judge Rowland at Southampton Crown Court, who said he wanted to “avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily”. The boys were instead given youth rehabilitation orders and fined £26. This sentencing decision left Jazmine feeling as if a “rock has been thrown straight at her face” and question “why bothering reporting at all”. Following examination by Attorney General Richard Hermer, the sentencing will go to the Court of Appeal for review, where Jazmine will be represented by Dr Charlotte Proudman.
Jazmine’s family say:
As Jazmine’s mother and step father, watching what she has been forced to endure has been one of the most painful and heartbreaking experiences of our lives.
When people hear about a crime, they often focus on the incident itself, but they do not always see the lasting impact it has on the victim and those who love them. As a family, we have witnessed first-hand the emotional, psychological and practical challenges that follow. The effects do not disappear when the court case ends or when the media attention moves on. They continue to affect everyday life, relationships, confidence, wellbeing and the sense of safety that many people take for granted.
As parents, there is a natural instinct to protect your children from harm. When something happens that you cannot prevent, the feelings of helplessness can be overwhelming. Seeing someone you love struggle with the consequences of trauma is incredibly difficult, and the impact is felt across the entire family.
Our experience has shown us how important support, understanding and compassion are for victims and their families. Recovery is not a straight line, and every journey is different. Families often need support too, yet their experiences can sometimes be overlooked.
This is one of the reasons we have founded the Stronger Than Silence Foundation. We want to help ensure that victims and families know they are not alone, that their voices matter, and that meaningful support is available when it is needed most.
While what happened to Jazmine will always be part of our story, it does not define who she is. She is strong, courageous and resilient, and we are incredibly proud of her. We fully support and campaign for the reduction and aim for the eradication of judicial bias, through raising awareness, supporting others and campaigning for positive change, we hope to help create a future where survivors and families receive the support, gain the justice, understanding and protection they deserve.
Our Breaking Bias, Building Justice Campaign is shining a light on gender bias and victim-blaming in our courts. Victim-survivors of sexual offences and domestic abuse continue to report unfair treatment. Our report “Scratching the Surface: Evidence of Victim-Blaming in Family Courts” identifies subtle but pervasive victim-blaming in published family court judgments.
Through our campaign efforts, we aspire to contribute to a justice system and judiciary that is fully representative, accountable, transparent, and equitable.
Published 10 June.