A woman who alleges she was raped by Russell Brand when she was 16 has waived her right to anonymity to campaign for a staggered age of consent.
Mia Latter says she was in an abusive three-month relationship with Brand when he was 30 and she was 16.
Previously identified using the pseudonym “Alice”, Latter said in an interview with the Sunday Times that she had been inspired by Gisèle Pelicot to give up her lifelong right to anonymity. “It’s not my shame,” she said. “It’s not my burden to carry any more. It’s not me lying, and I didn’t commit any crimes.”
Latter is calling on the UK government to introduce a “staggered” consent law, which would make it illegal for adults over a certain age to have sex with 16- and 17-year-olds.
Louise Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, said that Latter’s “heartbreaking story” meant a law change deserved consideration.
She told the Sunday Times: “We need to listen to Mia and other victims like her who have been through these experiences because it’s really important that as lawmakers their experience is at the heart of what we consider.
“It clearly would be a massive step to change the age of consent, but it deserves proper consideration and scrutiny. I can absolutely understand why she is calling for it.”
Under UK law, adults of any age can legally have sex with consenting 16- and 17-year-olds.
Latter told the paper: “It’s shocking to me time and time again that whenever the news comes up again about [Brand]it’s always in the comments about the relationship with a 16-year-old.
“That’s not the most heinous bit. But why is that the thing that everybody collectively gets stuck on? I think we all sort of agree that … adults shouldn’t be allowed to have sexual relationships with children, with somebody under the age of 18. That really doesn’t seem like a gigantic leap to take.”
Latter, now 37, was 16 when she first met Brand in Leicester Square, central London, while she was on her way home from a shopping trip. He took her number and later messaged her, asking if she wanted to go for dinner, she said.
She said that Brand – who was working at MTV at the time – still asked her to meet after she had told him her age.
Latter alleges Brand orally raped her towards the end of their three-month relationship. Brand denied all of the allegations made against him by Latter when they were first reported in 2023 by the Times.
Latter spoke to the police after the documentary, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to include her case in Brand’s trial at Southwark crown court.
Brand was convicted of attacks against four of the six women who gave evidence against him, and is now serving a 10-and-a-half-year prison term for one count of rape and three sexual assaults.
Earlier this week, it was announced that a series of “serious” sexual offence allegations against the comedian David Walliams were being looked at by the Metropolitan police after an investigation by the Guardian and ITV News.
One woman described her alleged encounter with Walliams when she was 15 as “sexual assault”. Walliams denies any wrongdoing.
Haigh went on to say that, in light of news that one of Walliams’ accusers was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), the government should look at banning them in cases of alleged sexual assault and harassment. She said: “When we consider the allegations against David Walliams, teenagers who were fans wouldn’t come under the current consultation.
“I do think there is a very strong case to look at banning NDAs in all circumstances where they relate to harassment or discrimination, to make sure that no victim, regardless of where it happened or what their relationship was with the perpetrator, should ever be silenced.”
It is believed MPs outside Labour may support a bill to change the age of consent laws, with Jess Brown-Fuller, the Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson, coming out in favour of reviewing them.
Commending Latter for the “extraordinary bravery” it took to waive her anonymity, Brown-Fuller said: “I think we must go further to increase protections for young women and girls, and looking at a staggered age of consent is an important step.
“We already have rules that recognise power imbalances in professions: between teachers and students, or barristers and junior colleagues. It’s time for the government to recognise the implicit power imbalance held by older men over teenage girls.”
Latter’s decision to come forward was also praised by Bridget Phillipson, the minister for women and equalities, who said she “and thousands of others across the country will be in awe of her courage and determination”. She said it was “up to all of us to send a message to women and girls who experience sexual violence: the shame is not yours. Women like Mia are leading the charge, but we can and must do more to make this a moment of change.”
Latter’s allegation was reported to the Met police, who said the investigation into the alleged rape was ongoing. A spokesperson said: “Officers launched an investigation in January 2026 after receiving an allegation of rape.
“Detectives sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service to determine how best to proceed, and officers were advised that further information was needed before a charging decision could be made.
“This investigation remains ongoing. We understand the delay has been distressing for this victim-survivor. However, our focus has been on putting forward the best possible evidence.”
The CPS said: “The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to work closely with investigators to provide advice and make sure cases progress as quickly as possible.”
Source: www.theguardian.com
