The three boys were found not guilty of rape after a 10 day trial at Minshull Street Crown Court (Image: Getty)
Three boys accused of raping a girl in a UK town centre have been found not guilty. The youngsters were aged 12, 13 and 14 when they were alleged to have raped the girl, who was 13 at the time. The boys were cleared by jurors after a 10 day trial at Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday (March 18).
All three boys, who are now aged 14, 15 and 16, had been accused of raping the girl, taking it in turns and « swapping positions » after meeting the girl in Rochdale in February 2024. During the course of the trial, the court heard some of the alleged attack was filmed on a mobile phone, with video « circulated » between the boys and « others ».
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The court heard the boys were at a tram stop chatting and vaping, with two 13-year-old girls among a large group gathered at the stop.
They got on a tram and chatted among themselves, with the 15-year-old boy telling jurors he and the girl flirted. He said there was also talk of « sh***ing ».
Jurors heard the boys, the girl and her pal got off the tram at Newbold and made their way towards a nearby Morrisons.
Prosecutors alleged the 15-year-old boy said: « We can do it in the bush if you want. » The boy told the court the girl had asked him for sex.
The court heard the group went into nearby bushes and the girl, who jurors were told had said « no », was bent over. Laughing could be heard in Snapchat footage played in court, with a voice heard saying « s*** it », Manchester Evening News reports.
According to the same publication, the girl’s friend pulled her away and the boys ran away home.
Rachel Shenton, representing the 16-year-old boy, put to the girl that there was flirting on the tram. To which the girl replied: « My friend pointed and said, ‘I like him’, as a joke. But it didn’t come from my mouth. »
She also denied saying she would « s*** » him and that she did not fancy the boy.
Asked in court if she did anything to make the boys believe she consented, the girl said, « no ».
Ms Shenton said the girl had been embarrassed after two strangers called her a « s**g » as they walked past her.
She told the court: « How does she react? ‘I was raped’. It is a get out of jail free card. This was not a rape, it was a shameful encounter. »
Peter Gilmour, representing the 15-year-old, said the girl did not give any sign she had « second thoughts ».
He added: « She went into the bushes. She went willingly. Her answer was, ‘I never said yeah’. How was he supposed to know? »
Both boys told the court what happened had been consensual, they were virgins and had left school with no sex education.
The 16-year-old told the court he would not have done anything if he thought the girl did not consent to it.
The 15-year-old said the girl asked him for sex and could tell by the way she was looking at him that she fancied him.
Prosecutor, Kim Whittlestone, told the court a bit of smiling and teenage flirting on the tram did not equate to a foursome in the bushes.
Ms Whittlestone said « gang rape » best described what happened to the girl. However, all three boys were found not guilty after jurors deliberated for nine hours and 46 minutes.
The 16 and 15 year old boys were cleared of rape and of two « joint enterprise » counts. The 14-year-old boy was found not guilty of rape and of encouraging the other boys.
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