Teenage boys raped and filmed lone girls, court told

Three teenage boys raped and filmed lone girls in two separate incidents, a court has heard.

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

Video footage recorded boys laughing as a 15-year-old victim was attacked in an underpass in the first incident, Southampton Crown Court heard.

The defendants, who were aged 13 or 14 at the time, between them, deny eight joint rape counts and one charge of taking indecent photos of a child.

Jodie Mittell KC, prosecuting, said the first girl travelled to Fordingbridge to meet one of the defendants, who she thought was her boyfriend after they met on Snapchat.

The barrister said the girl found herself "significantly outnumbered" and was "pressured" into having sex while being filmed.

The alleged victim told police she was "disgusted, numb, shaking and the boys were just laughing and recording what was happening", the court heard.

After attacks lasting an hour and a half, the boys walked her to a bus stop and offered to buy her a drink to cheer her up, Mittell said.

Later, videos of the attacks were circulated online and the victim received insulting texts, the prosecutor added.

Some of the January attacks were also filmed on one of the boys' phones, Mittell told the jury.

A girl, who was 14 at the time, told police a defendant pushed her down and used a knife to cut her clothing before forcing himself on her, the court heard.

The footage showed her lying motionless on the ground with "her face buried in her hands", while the video taker egged him on, the prosecutor said.

Further rapes that evening, which she did not disclose to police, were revealed by phone footage, Mittell added.

The defendants, who cannot be named because of their age, deny all charges against them.

They relate to the alleged attack on the 15-year-old girl on 26 November 2024 and the alleged attack on the 14-year-old girl in the area of Fordingbridge Recreation Ground on 17 January 2025.

The first boy, now 15, denies four charges of rape against the first girl and two charges of rape against the second girl. He also denies taking indecent videos of the second girl.

The second boy, also 15, denies four charges of rape against the first girl and four charges of rape against the second girl.

The third boy, now 14, denies two counts of rape against the second girl.

Ms Mittell said issues in the case would include the girls' consent and whether video takers or bystanders were guilty of rape by giving encouragement or assistance.

All three boys have pleaded guilty to separate charges of taking indecent videos in relation to the two incidents, the jury was told.

The trial, which is due to last four to six weeks, continues.