Three women have come forward with plans to sue Andrew Tate, a well-known social media influencer, for damages over allegations of rape and physical abuse. The women claim that they suffered physical injury and psychological harm that has prevented them from living a normal life or working for many years. In this article, we take a closer look at the allegations and what has happened since they were first made.
The Allegations
The three women, who were aged in their late 20s or early 30s, worked as webcam models for Tate in Luton from 2013 onwards. They claim that Tate physically abused and raped them during this time, and that he was controlling and coercive. The women say that they were poorly paid and threatened when they tried to go to the police.
The women first reported their allegations to the police eight years ago, but they claim that detectives failed to investigate the allegations properly before dropping the case. Hertfordshire police began investigating the women’s allegations in 2015 and arrested Tate three times on suspicion of raping two women and assaulting a third. However, the case was abandoned four years later with no further action. The force later apologised for delays in the investigation.
The women’s lawyer, Matt Jury, has said that the allegations include rape, sexual and physical assaults, holding guns to women’s heads, and strangulations with belts. He claims that the evidence provided should have been sufficient to warrant proper criminal intent investigation and, in his opinion, for charges to be brought.
What Happened Next?
Tate denied the women’s accusations and said through his legal team that they “wanted money because I fired them.” A spokesman for Andrew Tate said he vehemently denied the UK allegations and criticised the women and their lawyers for alerting them through the media and their use of crowdfunding.
The three British women hope to raise funds to start their UK civil damages claim through crowdfunding, but also hope to spur Hertfordshire police into reopening the abandoned investigation. The women’s lawyer said that if charges had been brought against Tate in England, he may not have fled to Romania, where he is currently under house arrest while police investigate suspected human trafficking, rape and sexual exploitation of women.
The Crown Prosecution Service has reviewed all the evidence provided by Hertfordshire police in its investigation in 2019 and found no realistic prospect of conviction. Hertfordshire Police said that officers from the team who dealt with this case are available to meet with the women involved to speak to them about their concerns and the investigation.
Conclusion
The allegations made by the three women against Andrew Tate are serious and shocking. While Tate has denied the allegations, the women claim that the evidence provided to the police should have been sufficient for charges to be brought against him. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of taking allegations of sexual and physical abuse seriously and investigating them thoroughly. It also highlights the need for better support for victims of abuse to enable them to come forward and speak out about their experiences.