High Court Judge Vows Prompt Hearing for Andrew Tate Civil Rape Trial Despite Delays
A High Court judge has assured that the civil trial against influencer Andrew Tate, facing allegations of rape and sexual assault, "will be heard" expeditiously, notwithstanding recent postponements. The case, involving claims from four women, was due to commence on 22 June but saw an adjournment after police reignited a criminal inquiry into the accusations.
Judicial Urgency and Police Investigation
Mrs Justice Lambert, presiding over the High Court proceedings, stated: "As soon as this case is ready it will be heard." This declaration followed the decision to adjourn the civil case on Wednesday, pending further details on the ongoing criminal investigation. Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist, has previously dismissed the allegations in a written defence, describing them as "gross fabrications."
The civil claims detail incidents allegedly occurring in Luton and Hitchin between 2013 and 2015. Among these is an allegation that Tate repeatedly grabbed one woman by the throat in 2015, pointed a gun at her face, and assaulted her with a belt. Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed in March that it would reinvestigate alleged rape and sexual assault offences reported between 2014 and 2015, focusing on over a million messages, videos, and photos across 10 devices.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is concurrently investigating the force's handling of its initial inquiry into these claims. Tate's legal team sought a 12-month stay on the civil case, citing the need to await materials from the police and concerns over potential prejudice to future criminal proceedings. Mrs Justice Lambert rejected this application, instead opting for an adjournment and urging the police to "work with a degree of urgency." The judge noted that Tate's lawyers had "not persuaded me that there is a real risk of serious prejudice" and anticipated any criminal trial would be "many years in the future."
The precise new date for the civil trial remains undetermined, with a July hearing expected to provide updates on the police investigation. This could pave the way for a new trial commencement several months from now.
Broader Legal Challenges
Matthew Jury, representing the women in the civil case, highlighted the claimants' enduring wait for justice, stating they "have been let down time and again by the police." Separately, Tate continues to contend with legal challenges across the UK, US, and Romania, encompassing both civil and criminal allegations. A spokesperson for Tate reiterated in March that he "continues to deny all allegations in the strongest possible terms" and would "engage with any proper legal process in full, as he has consistently done."
