Grammy-nominated rapper Slowthai cleared of raping two women

Rapper Slowthai and his friend Alex Blake-Walker have been acquitted of multiple rape charges following allegations of assaulting two women at a house party in Oxford in 2021.

The 29-year-old, whose real name is Tyron Frampton, stood trial at Oxford Crown Court alongside Blake-Walker.

Frampton broke down in tears upon hearing the verdict, while his wife, pop singer Anne-Marie, expressed visible relief.

What were the accusations?

Frampton was accused of raping two women with his co-accused Alex Blake-Walker, after a performance at The Bullingdon in Oxford in September 2021.

Barrister Heather Stangoe alleged that Frampton and Blake-Walker met a group of women before the show, offering some of them VIP tickets to the gig. One of the complainants was described as a “huge fan”.

At the house, two of the women alleged being “isolated” from their friends and then raped and sexually assaulted by Frampton and Blake-Walker, who were claimed to have “high fived, discussed ‘tag teams’ and contemplated swapping the girls”.

The assault is said to have ended when a friend of the women discovered what was happening. According to Stangoe, Frampton then fled the house by jumping from a balcony-style roof.

Patrick Gibbs KC, defending Frampton, told the jury that while being “un-gamely”, the events from that night between his client and one of his complainants were consensual.