Rapper Slowthai raped two women with friend at after-show party, court hears
Rapper Slowthai raped two women at a house party after a gig, along with a friend, a court has been told.
The Grammy-nominated star, whose real name is Tyron Frampton, 29, and his co-accused Alex Blake-Walker, 27, are accused of raping the two women at a flat in Oxford on 8 September, 2021.
Both men deny the charges, and say all sexual activity was with the participation and consent of the women.
Frampton, 29, arrived at Oxford Crown Court for the second day of his trial accompanied by his wife, singer Anne-Marie.
WARNING: Allegations that some readers may find upsetting
The alleged attack is said to have taken place following Frampton’s performance at The Bullingdon music venue in the city, the night before.
Oxford Crown Court heard that one of the complainants – described as a “huge fan” of the rapper – had seen Frampton in a restaurant before the show and after speaking with him had been added to the VIP list.
Heather Stangoe, prosecuting, told the jury that after the gig this complainant met a group of friends – including the second complainant – at Frampton’s tour bus.
Ms Stangoe told the jury the “sole purpose” of Frampton and Blake-Walker going to the house party “was to secure sexual gratification”.
Frampton arrives at Oxford Crown Court with his wife, singer Anne-Marie. Pic: PA
‘High-fiving’ and ‘tag teams’
She said: “It mattered not to them whether the subjects of their attention consented or not. As it happened the two women in this case did not but that did not matter to these two defendants.”
She alleged the women were raped simultaneously at one point, with the defendants said to have “high-fived, discussed ‘tag teams’ and contemplated swapping the girls”.
She went on: “Their behaviour whilst sexually assaulting two females – who they had isolated from their friends – the encouragement and the assistance they gave one another when they became concerned that the females would run away has resulted in them being jointly charged with oral and vaginal rape.”
Ms Stangoe says Frampton met the second complainant, who had not been at the performance, at the Bullingdon Bar, and shared a shot of tequila with her.
She said she “had been drinking for many hours” and had also taken ketamine and cocaine and continued to drink and take drugs until just before the incident.
The prosecution said that although she was intoxicated, rendering her vulnerable, her state did not mean that she was incapable of consenting.
‘No phones, and no boys’
She says the girls declined an invitation to remain on the tour bus and travel to the next tour date in Southampton, and instead went to their friend’s house.
Ms Stangoe says Frampton stipulated that there would be “no phones, and no boys,” before agreeing to attend the party, a restriction she says suggested Frampton and Blake-Walker’s “mindset from the outset”.
The prosecutor said Frampton, Blake-Walker and two other men went with the group of girls to the property. She said the attack took place on a flat roof through a window of the property, and “happened very quickly”.
When the attack was interrupted, after initially being impeded by Blake-Walker holding the window shut, she said: “Frampton immediately jumped from the roof into the garden, ran through and out of the house. Blake-Walker left the property. The other two men also left.”
Ms Stangoe says the incident was reported to the police that night, after which the defendants were arrested and interviewed, denying the charges.
‘The effect of celebrity’
The prosecution alleges Frampton had twice raped one of the complainants while being encouraged by Blake-Walker.
Blake-Walker is accused of raping the other complainant while being encouraged by Frampton.
It is said they both sexually assaulted the woman Frampton is alleged to have raped.
In opening remarks to the jury, Patrick Gibbs KC, representing Frampton, suggested the events that night between his client and one of the complainants were consensual.
He said there was a difference between on the one hand “willingly participating in something which is spontaneous and chaotic and in the excitement of the intoxication of the moment and on the other regretting it afterwards”.
He also said “the effect of celebrity” may have led people to “enthusiastically do things they wouldn’t otherwise do”.
Sheryl Nwosu, representing Blake-Walker, said her client had always denied forcing one of the women to engage in sexual activity, and denied any sexual contact with the woman Frampton is accused of raping.
Frampton, who was nominated for a Grammy in 2021 and a Mercury prize in 2019, was removed from the Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading festival line-up after being charged last year.
The trial – which is expected to last three weeks – continues.
Sir Elton John says he has not been able to see out of his right eye for four months, and his left eye “is not the greatest”, following a severe infection.
The 77-year-old singer said he has been unable to finish his new album due to his limited eyesight, and had been left feeling “stuck”.
Asked about when the album with his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin, which was announced last year, will be out the Rocketman star told ABC News’ Good Morning America: “I don’t know. It’s been a while since I’ve done anything, and well, I just have to get off my backside.
“I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France and it’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see, and my left eye is not the greatest.
“So, there’s hope and encouragement that it will be okay, but… I’m kind of stuck at the moment, because I can do something like this [the interview], but going into the studio and recording, I don’t know, because I can’t see a lyric for a start.”
The British star said he was “taking an initiative to try and get it better,” and was “concentrating” on regaining his eye health.
He went on: “It’s never fortunate for anything like this to happen, and it kind of floored me. And I can’t see anything, I can’t read anything, can’t watch anything.”
Earlier this year, Taupin told Sky News the album was “incredibly personal” and would not be Sir Elton’s last.
At the time, Taupin said: “It’s all done, it’s all in the can and ready to come out, I think, at the end of this year.”
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In September, Sir Elton revealed in an Instagram post that he was “healing” after the infection, saying: “It’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.”
The musician has suffered with various health issues over the years including knee and hip replacements, and surgery for prostate cancer.
However, that has not stopped him from performing and making public appearances.
Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish. Pic: AP
His headline set at Glastonbury last year marked the final UK performance of his marathon Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which concluded in Stockholm, Sweden, the following month.
Earlier this month he shared a new song with American singer Brandi Carlile, titled Never Too Late, inspired by his new Disney+ documentary of the same name, and he has publicised the film on the red carpet in both Toronto and London.
In October, he performed with Dua Lipa on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, and last week he appeared at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the King at the same London venue.
Known for hits including I’m Still Standing, Candle In The Wind and Your Song, Sir Elton was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in 2021.
He has two young sons, Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11, with his husband, Canadian filmmaker David Furnish.
Rod Stewart will be a headliner at Glastonbury next year year, the festival has announced.
Stewart, 79, will play the Sunday teatime legend slot.
The Do Ya Think I’m Sexy singer is the first act to be announced.
He announced the news on Instagram, writing: “I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’ll be playing Glastonbury Festival 2025! After all these years, I’m proud and ready and more than able to take the stage again to pleasure and titillate my friends at Glastonbury in June. I’ll see you there!”
Sir Rod will be 80 when the festival takes place between 25 and 29 June next year on Worthy Farm in Somerset.
Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis shared the same image of Sir Rod a few minutes later, with the message: “Bringing Sir Rod Stewart back for the Sunday afternoon slot on the Pyramid Stage is everything we could wish for.
“What a way to bow out with the final legends slot before we take a fallow year. We cannot wait.”
2026 will be a fallow year for Glastonbury (a year off), with the festival traditionally taking place four out of every five years, and the fifth year reserved for rehabilitation of the land.
Sir Rod – who is known for hits including Maggie May, You Wear It Well and Sailing – previously headlined the festival in 2002 alongside Coldplay and Stereophonics.
Sir Rod first rose to fame as frontman of 1970s rockers the Faces, alongside now-Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood along with Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane, and Kenney Jones. They formed after the break-up of the Small Faces.
He’s also performed and recorded with the Jeff Beck Group appearing on the albums Truth and Beck-Ola.
Sir Rod with his wife Penny Lancaster
Sir Rod has gone on to have 25 UK top 10 singles and 38 UK top 10 albums as a solo artist. His career spans six decades.
In 2016 he was knighted at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity.
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