Rapper Slowthai and Friend Accused of Rape Following Gig, Court Hears

A court has been informed that Grammy-nominated rapper Slowthai and an associate allegedly raped two women after one of his performances. The 29-year-old artist, whose birth name is Tyron Frampton, is accused of sexually assaulting the women subsequent to his show at The Bullingdon in Oxford in September 2021. Both Mr. Frampton and his co-defendant, Alex Blake-Walker, have entered pleas of not guilty to three joint counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Mr. Frampton appeared at Oxford Crown Court alongside his wife, the popstar Anne-Marie, whom he secretly married in July 2022. Opening the prosecution’s case, Heather Stangoe stated that the two men had met a group of women before the concert and provided some with tickets for that evening. Following the gig, the barrister said, the women reconnected with Mr. Frampton and his entourage on his tour bus. Ms. Stangoe informed the court that the women invited the group back to one of their properties, where Mr. Frampton reportedly insisted on two rules: “No phones and no boys.” She asserted, “Their sole purpose for going to that house was to find sexual gratification,” adding, “It mattered not to them if the women consented or not.” Ms. Stangoe further stated that upon arrival at the house, two of the women were “isolated” from their companions. Mr. Frampton and Mr. Blake-Walker, 27, then raped and sexually assaulted the women, while the men were “joking” and “high-fiving,” Ms. Stangoe said. The court was told that the assault concluded when the women’s friends became aware of the situation and instructed the men to stop. The barrister added that Mr. Frampton then proceeded to jump from the balcony-style roof where the group was located, before running through the house to exit. Defending Mr. Frampton, Patrick Gibbs KC informed the jury that the rapper had “met up with his fans in the usual way” after the performance. He urged the jury to “keep an open mind” throughout the trial, stating, “What is in dispute is whether the women consented.” He characterized the case as partly concerning “the difference between willingly consenting to something that is thrilling and exciting in the moment, to then regretting it afterwards.” He additionally requested the jury consider the “effect of celebrity,” suggesting that “people do, or may, act differently” in the presence of famous individuals. Sheryl Nwosu, counsel for Mr. Blake-Walker, stated that her client “denies that he had forced anybody” to engage in sexual acts. She further asserted, “All sexual contact and acts were consensual.” Earlier on Monday, Judge Ian Pringle cautioned the jurors about the potential for significant public attention surrounding the case. Slowthai received a Grammy award nomination in 2021 and a Mercury Prize nomination in 2019. The rapper, whose address is Wellingborough Road, Northampton, was removed from the schedules for Glastonbury Festival, Reading, and Leeds festivals following his charging in 2023. The proceedings are ongoing. For updates, BBC Oxfordshire can be followed on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.