Content note: the following article contains references to sexual violence that readers might find upsetting

Andrew Tate is set to be extradited to the UK after British police secured a European arrest warrant for allegations of rape and human trafficking against him and his brother, Tristan. The pair were detained on Monday evening on arrest warrants over alleged sexual offences in the UK, where three women claim he sexually and physically assaulted them.

The women pursuing the proceedings, now in their late 20s and early 30s, state that the offences took place between 2013 and 2016 while Tate was living in the UK. Separately, Andrew and Tristan Tate have each been charged with human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women, following a long period of detention since their arrest in December 2022 in Romania. Andrew Tate has also been charged with rape. They deny all the charges against them.

According to the judge’s ruling, Tate can be extradited only after the conclusion of their separate trial in Romania on human trafficking charges. Speaking to reporters outside court, Andrew Tate told reporters he and his brother are “very innocent men”.

Tate’s influence, particularly online, has become increasingly widespread, with the self-described “misogynist” influencer followed by more than 8.9 million accounts on X (formerly Twitter) at the time of writing. 

In 2023, a survey conducted by Hope Not Hate, a UK advocacy body that campaigns on social justice issues found that eight in 10 boys aged 16-17 had consumed Tate’s content and that 45% of men in Britain aged 16–24 had a positive view of him, compared to only 1% of British women aged 16-17 who held a positive view of Tate.

According to the law firm McCue Jury & Partners, representing the women, the primary aim of the lawsuit is to seek “justice, accountability and compensation for Tate’s victims”, who worked as webcam models for Tate in Luton from 2013 onwards and claim they were abused, poorly paid and threatened to try to stop them going to the police, according to Sky News.

The women are currently hoping to raise funds to start their UK civil damages claim through crowdfunding and are encouraging Hertfordshire police to reopen an abandoned police investigation into Tate.

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 Crown Prosecution Service said it had reviewed carefully all the evidence provided by Hertfordshire police in its investigation in 2019 and found no realistic prospect of conviction.

The controversial kickboxer-turned-influencer continues to deny all accusations against him and was released from a Romanian jail on 31 March 2023 before being placed under house arrest. In August 2023, he was released from house arrest and placed under judicial control measures that currently prevent him from leaving Romania. 

In response, a spokesperson for Tate said that he “vehemently denies these allegations”, adding: “We are concerned that the intention of suing was first communicated to the mainstream press and not to Andrew Tate or his legal team… [He] is saddened that the press chooses to act as a facilitator for opportunistic attempts by women for monetary gain.”

But what does a civil claim mean and could it lead to further prison time for Tate? 

“Survivors of Andrew Tate’s alleged sexual assaults, which took place in the UK, will have the option to proceed with a civil claim in the UK against him,” Danielle Vincent, a senior associate at Hugh James Solicitors tells Stylist.

As Vincent explains, a civil action is separate to the criminal case whereby the abuser may receive a custodial sentence or their name on the sex offenders register, for example. “In a civil action, if successful, Tate would be personally liable for the damages and costs of the civil claim to the survivor. This includes any physical and psychological injuries as well as any associated losses, such as; earnings, disruption in education and therapy required, which could run into significant sums for Tate,” she says.

“When survivors are strong enough to come out and publicly disclose their abuse, it often gives others the strength to come forward also. There could be many others reading these articles that will subsequently come forward. We would encourage anyone who has been impacted by Tate to report to the police,” Vincent adds. 

The 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line can be reached for free by calling 0808 500 2222 or visiting the Rape Crisis England & Wales website. If you need emergency help, call 999.

The 24-hour National Domestic Abuse helpline can also be contacted on 0808 2000 247 and further support can be accessed online via their website. 

Images: Getty