Woman waives anonymity to accuse jailed Russell Brand of rape

Summarised from 7 outlets · 9 reports · Updated 15 Nov, 07:19 · Archive

Mia Latter, now 37, has publicly alleged that Russell Brand raped her when she was 16 years old and Brand was 30. She waived her lifelong right to anonymity to speak to the Sunday Times about the allegations, which she previously made under the pseudonym 'Alice' in a 2023 joint investigation by the Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches.

Latter says she first met Brand in Leicester Square in central London whilst on her way home from a shopping trip. Brand asked for her number, later messaged her and invited her to dinner. Although she told him her age, Brand, who was working at MTV at the time, continued to pursue contact and asked to meet her. She alleges their relationship lasted three months in 2006.

Latter says Brand instructed her to keep their relationship secret from her school friends, though his entourage was aware of it. She claims he referred to her as 'the child' in front of them. She alleges that towards the end of their relationship, Brand orally raped her. She told the Sunday Times: 'I was choking and crying. I was trying to push him off, so he knew that I didn't want him to be doing that, and so then I ended up having to hit him in the stomach to get him off.' She claimed Brand then told her: 'I just wanted to see your mascara run.'

The allegation was reported to the Metropolitan Police. Although Ms Latter has said she has decided not to continue with the criminal process, the force said the investigation into the alleged rape remains ongoing. The Crown Prosecution Service did not include her case in Brand's recent criminal trial. None of the six women who made allegations against Brand in the 2023 media investigation were complainants in that trial.

Brand, 51, was convicted on 5 November of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving other women between 2004 and 2009. He was sentenced to 10 years and six months and is currently imprisoned at HM Prison Wandsworth, with plans to move him to HMP Wakefield.

Latter says the experience significantly impacted her education and mental health. She told the Sunday Times her school attendance dropped to 30 per cent as she would 'sneak off' to see Brand, and she never completed her A-levels. 'I felt so much shame and embarrassment around the whole thing, that I let this stupid thing ruin my prospects,' she said.

Latter is using her decision to publicly reveal her identity to campaign for a change in UK law. She is calling for a staggered age of consent that would make relationships between adults and teenagers aged 16 and 17 illegal. Currently under UK law, adults of any age are legally able to have sex with 16- and 17-year-olds. Louise Haigh, the deputy prime minister, told the Sunday Times that Latter's 'heart-breaking story' meant a law change deserved consideration, saying: 'It clearly would be a massive step to change the age of consent, but it deserves proper consideration and scrutiny.'

How it is being reported

• Russell Brand accuser claims comedian raped her when she was 16 - and calls for age of consent changeMinister says Mia Latter’s call for age of consent law change deserves ‘proper consideration’Evening Standard · 15 Nov, 07:07
• UK government to consider changing age of consent after allegations against Russell BrandDeputy prime minister says change would be a massive step but ‘deserves proper consideration and scrutiny’ The government has said it will consider calls to change the age of consent after a woman waived her right to anonymity to publicly claim she was raped by Russell Brand as a 16-year-old schoolgirl. Mia Latter, now 37, alleged she had been orally raped by the jailed comedian when she was a teenager and he was 30 years old. Continue reading...Guardian World · 15 Nov, 00:17
• Alleged Russell Brand rape victim wants age of consent law changedMia Latter, who says she was 16 when she met the convicted rapist, wants a staggered age of consent.BBC News · 14 Nov, 22:37
• Government faces calls to stagger age of consent after Russell Brand allegationsMia Latter, now 37, alleged she had been mistreated by the jailed comedian when she was a teenager and he was aged 30.Evening Standard · 14 Nov, 22:31
• Woman accuses Russell Brand of raping her when she was a 16-year-old school girlMia Latter, now 37, who claims she was raped by Brand when she was 16, is now campaigning for a change in consent lawsThe Independent · 14 Nov, 21:30
• Russell Brand accused of raping 16-year-old girl he nicknamed ‘the child’DISTRESSING CONTENT WARNING: Mia Latter, previously known as 'Alice', has spoken publicly about her relationship with Brand when he was 30 and she was 16.Daily Express · 14 Nov, 20:24
• Woman who alleges she was raped by Russell Brand waives her anonymityMia Latter, now 37, has alleged she was mistreated by Brand when she was a schoolgirl and he was aged 30Evening Standard · 14 Nov, 20:20
• Russell Brand rape accuser reveals identity for first time, details alleged abuse at age 16Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault on Nov. 5.New York Post · 14 Nov, 19:58
• Russell Brand accused of ‘raping 16-year-old’ who her referred to as ‘the child’Trial: Russell Brand outside Southwark Crown Court (PA) A woman says she was raped by Russell Brand when she was 16 and claims he referred to her as ‘the child’. Brand, 51, has begun a ten-and-a-half year sentence after he was convicted of raping a woman in 2009, as well as sexually assaulting…Metro · 14 Nov, 19:21

In this story: Russell Brand · Mia Latter · Louise Haigh · Metropolitan Police · Crown Prosecution Service · Leicester Square · HM Prison Wandsworth · HMP Wakefield

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