Review For Caustic Soda Gang Rape Sentences

The sentences of three men who gang-raped a 16-year-old girl before dousing her with caustic soda are to be reviewed following criticism they are too lenient.

The defendants were among a gang of 10 men who lured the girl, who had a mental age of eight, to an empty house and filmed her ordeal on their mobile phones.

The girl, who cannot be named, was disfigured for life after they poured the corrosive on her in a bid to destroy forensic evidence. The court heard she agreed to meet a man she knew for sex in the north London flat, as she thought it would make her popular.

She was left with burns to 50% of her body, and was in a coma following the attack at the flat in Seven Sisters, north London, in January 2008.

The Attorney General can refer the sentencing to the Court of Appeal if he feels it was "unduly lenient".

Disability charities have criticised the sentences, saying they sent out "the wrong message".

Richard Curen, chief executive of Respond, said: "This was a horrific and cowardly attack that scarred and traumatised this young woman both physically and mentally.

"These sentences are another injury and I fear it will take even longer for her to recover."

Deborah Kitson, director of The Ann Craft Trust, also said victims with learning difficulties often faced "hurdles" in getting justice.

"Most people don't realise that people with learning disabilities are more likely to be victims of rape," she said.

"They can also face lots of hurdles in getting justice and fear not being believed if they come forward. Sentences such as this can damage people's confidence in the courts."

Rogel McMorris, 18, from Tottenham, north London, was jailed for nine years for rape and grievous bodily harm.

Jason Brew, 19, from Tottenham, was jailed for six years and Hector Muaimba, 20, from Walthamstow, was given eight years for rape and robbery.

A spokesman for the Attorney General's office said: "We have asked the Crown Prosecution Service for the papers in the case so we can consider whether the sentence is one that should be referred to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient."

The girl has been disfigured for life and faces further surgery and skin grafts, as well as undergoing counselling for nightmares and panic attacks.

She told how she was unable to forgive her attackers.

In a statement she said: "I have tried to forgive them for what they have done, but it is so hard. I hope one day they will feel sorry for what they have done to me."

(JM/BMcC)