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A woman who has accused Russell Brand of raping her when she was 16 years old has chosen to reveal her identity and is now advocating for a staggered age of consent in an interview with the Sunday Times. Mia Latter was among six women who came forward with allegations against Brand during a 2023 investigation carried out by The Times, Sunday Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches. In that investigation, she was referred to by the pseudonym “Alice.” At the time, Brand denied all allegations. It is important to note that none of these women were complainants in Brand’s recent criminal trial.
On Monday, Brand received a sentence of ten and a half years after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. However, he was acquitted of two other rape charges and an allegation of attempted indecent assault. According to the Sunday Times, Latter initially described her experience as sexual assault when she spoke to the media during the 2023 investigation. She now categorizes the incident as rape. At 37 years old, Latter has spoken openly about the case in the recent interview.
Latter recounted meeting Brand when she was 16 and he was 30, on her way home from shopping. Brand was working at MTV at the time. She told the paper that the age gap and clear imbalance of power resonated with many people. She also shared that Brand instructed her to keep their relationship hidden from her school friends and that he referred to her as “the child” in front of his associates. The Sunday Times reported that towards the end of their relationship, Latter was allegedly orally raped by Brand.
Currently, Latter is campaigning for a “staggered” age of consent law, which would criminalize relationships between adults and 16- or 17-year-olds, while not penalizing relationships between teenagers in that age group. She explained, “I don’t want to criminalise teenagers having sex with each other. If you’re between the ages of 16 and 18, it seems reasonable that you can have relationships with each other, and [teenagers] are always going to. But … if you’re in your thirties, forties and fifties and you’re trying to have a relationship with someone under the age of 18, it [should be] a criminal offence.” Latter also shared that she has decided not to pursue criminal proceedings further in order to focus on her campaign. She revealed that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) chose not to include her in Brand’s criminal trial, although the police intended for her to be involved in a possible future trial.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated that an investigation was launched in January 2026 after receiving Latter’s allegation of rape. The police consulted with the CPS to determine the best course of action and were advised that additional information was required before charges could be pursued. The spokesperson acknowledged the distress the delay has caused the victim-survivor but emphasized that their priority remains to present the strongest evidence possible. Meanwhile, a Crown Prosecution Service representative confirmed that the CPS continues to work closely with investigators to provide advice and ensure cases progress efficiently
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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