Teenage boys plead not guilty to raping girls

Three teenage boys have pleaded not guilty to charges involving the alleged rape of two girls in two separate incidents.

The attacks are alleged to have taken place in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, in November 2024 and January 2025.

The boys, who were aged 13 or 14 at the time of the incidents, denied 16 counts of rape between them.

They were bailed to appear for trial at Southampton Crown Court on 26 January.

Two of the boys, now aged 15, pleaded not guilty to four joint charges of rape against one complainant on 26 November 2024.

One of them also denied five counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

Both 15-year-olds pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape against a second girl, who was allegedly attacked in the area of Fordingbridge Recreation Ground on 17 January 2025.

One of these defendants and the third boy, now aged 14, pleaded not guilty to two further counts of rape in the second incident.

The defendants cannot be named because of their age.

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