Slowthai made woman feel “helpless” during alleged rape, court told
A woman who alleges she was rapped by rapper Slowthai, real name Tyron Frampton, at a house party in Oxford in 2021 has said she was “helpless” during the alleged attack, a court has heard in Oxford.
Frampton and his friend, Alex Blake-Walker, are currently on trial at Oxford Crown Court, which began on November 25th. The pair have been charged with three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, which they deny.
The incident allegedly occurred after Slowthai performed at The Bullingdon in Oxford on September 7th, 2021. Following the performance, Frampton met the woman and her friends at the venue. They then went to his tour bus before a group of eight women and four men went to a flat party, the court heard, according to the Oxford Mail.
While most of those in attendance at the party stayed inside, Frampton and Blake-Walker allegedly went to the roof of the property with the two complainants. On the roof, the prosecution alleged that Blake-Walker raped the first woman while Frampton encouraged the behaviour before the musician raped the second complainant on two occasions. They also allege that Frampton was encouraged by Blake-Walker.
In a police interview which was played in court that was conducted a week after the alleged events, the woman told officers that Frampton forced her to perform oral sex. She said: “I said stop to him. Slowthai was trying to pull my hair so I would continue giving him oral sex. They were saying, ‘No it’s safe we’ll look after you… it’s safe with us’. They were saying, ‘It’s so great, can’t believe this is happening’ and fist-bumping each other.”
The complainant also revealed she had been drinking as well as taking cocaine and ketamine on the night of the incident.
The second accusation of rape against Slowthai
She then described the second alleged rape by Frampton, telling officers in the interview: “He picked me up off the floor and pushed me into the wall and shoved my face into the wall and he began to have sex with me. He had his one hand on the back of my head against the wall and the other hand to stabilise me because I wasn’t really able to hold myself up.”
“I hadn’t said no, not saying anything, I just pretended I wasn’t really there. At some point I said I wanted to go inside,” she continued.
She added: “I knew they were not going to leave the roof until they got what they wanted. He grabbed the window so I couldn’t get back into the bedroom.”
It’s also alleged that Blake-Walker was masturbating while watching Frampton have sex with the woman, before “he asked if he could have a turn”. She stated in the interview: “I just shut my eyes and waited for it to be done. He was frustrated by the angle because I wasn’t co-operating. He then moved me and lay me on the floor. My friend came to the window and told them to get out and told them they were fucking weirdos.”
In the interview, the woman also said that the other complainant was “retching.” Additionally, she alleged that Frampton and Blake-Walker used the term “tag team.”
Officers also asked the woman why she didn’t tell Frampton to stop. In response, the complainant said she “didn’t want them to be aggressive towards me,” adding, “I didn’t want to ruin it, so that’s why I didn’t say stop.”
Furthermore, the woman claimed, “I felt helpless, like my body was not my own and I wasn’t really a person, and I was just a ‘thing’ and they were going to do stuff regardless. I thought if they were going to go to these ends, I should just let them.”
Frampton and Blake-Walker deny the three joint charges of rape and one of sexual assault of two women. The trial is expected to last for three weeks.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.