UK Women Sue Andrew Tate for Rape, Abuse and Coercive Control

By Ben Freeman

Andrew Tate, the controversial online figure and self-proclaimed influencer, now faces what is being described as a landmark civil action in the United Kingdom’s High Court. Four British women are pursuing claims against him for rape, sexual assault, and—crucially—the first ever civil action for coercive control, a move that could reshape civil jurisprudence in cases involving psychological abuse and patterns of controlling behaviour.

The proceedings were launched at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, with a civil trial now formally listed for early 2027. It is expected to run for three weeks. The legal representatives for the claimants are led by solicitor Matthew Jury of McCue Jury & Partners, an established legal firm renowned for its human rights and abuse litigation.

The women allege that between 2013 and 2015, Tate subjected them to multiple forms of violence, including strangulation, threats involving firearms, verbal abuse, manipulation, and non-consensual sexual activity. In court filings and witness submissions, each of the claimants provided detailed accounts of what they describe as prolonged abuse during their time under Tate’s influence.

According to the particulars of claim, one woman alleges that Tate frequently grabbed her by the throat, strangled her until she complied with his demands, and assaulted her with a belt. She claims he once held a gun to her face and said, “You’re going to do as I say or there’ll be hell to pay.” On multiple occasions, the woman said she was only released from his grasp when she told him she loved him or apologised.

She further stated that both Andrew and his brother Tristan Tate engaged in a manipulation strategy resembling a “good cop, bad cop” routine, which included physical intimidation and enforced labour within Tate’s webcam business. She also described being whipped with a belt and held in headlocks as punishment for failing to get out of bed to work.

The second complainant alleges that during their time together in 2015, Tate frequently strangled her without consent, making it clear she was “his”, and threatening to kill anyone who spoke to her. She said that, “he punched her on her arm” and on several occasions, she “was forced to barricade herself inside the bathroom” after Tate “threatened to ‘beat the shit out of’ her”. The woman claims the strangulations were so routine that they “became normal”. According to her statement, these acts were typically triggered by any perceived disobedience or verbal disagreement.

The third claimant accuses Tate of telling her, “I’m just debating whether to rape you or not,” before proceeding to have sex with her against her will. Her testimony forms part of the broader allegations of rape and coercive behaviour.

All four women allege they were subjected to an environment of intimidation, manipulation, and control that extended beyond physical violence to include financial dependence and psychological degradation. These are now being formally tested within the framework of a civil trial, the first of its kind to centre coercive control as a basis for a damages claim.

Speaking outside court following the preliminary hearing, Matthew Jury said: “I think it was an attempt to intimidate the victims to consider withdrawing their claims.” His comments followed a legal dispute over Tate’s submission of an estimated £1 million costs bill—a move the claimants described as an attempt to financially bludgeon the case into collapse.

The High Court has since ruled that Tate’s recoverable costs should be capped at 60 percent of that initial figure. “We are grateful that the court has acknowledged that the defendant has sought to penalise the claimants for bringing this claim with an extraordinary claim for costs of nearly a million pounds,” Mr Jury told reporters.

He added: “Tate is going to be seeking to victim-shame, minimise the allegations, and delegitimise any of the evidence and expert evidence that’s going to be brought in the proceedings.”

Anne Studd KC, acting on behalf of the women, used the hearing to apply for the court’s permission to call two additional expert witnesses. These were Professor Jane Monckton Smith, an expert in domestic homicide and coercive control, and Professor Timothy Dalgleish, a University of Cambridge psychologist specialising in the mental health impacts of trauma.

Ms Studd told the court that this case presents “the first claim where allegations of coercive control have been considered in a civil context of whether that behaviour can amount to intentional infliction of harm”.

She explained that Professor Monckton Smith would provide evidence regarding the psychological profile of coercive and controlling behaviour—highlighting how victims may act in ways that appear contradictory or remain in relationships where abuse occurs.

“She can help analyse the pattern of behaviour, highlighting the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which the abuser exerted control over the victim and identify and explain specific tactics used by abusers, such as isolation, intimidation, financial control, and emotional manipulation,”

Ms Studd said. However, Master Armstrong rejected the application to allow Professor Monckton Smith to give oral evidence, ruling that an experienced High Court judge could assess issues around coercion. He left open the possibility of renewing the application at trial if it became relevant. The court did allow Professor Dalgleish to be called, specifically to give evidence concerning delays in the claim being brought—delays the claimants argue stem from the psychological effects of prolonged trauma.

The court was told that the trial may be the only current proceeding in which Tate is likely to face legal scrutiny for these allegations. Mr Jury remarked:

“Right now, these are the only live proceedings in which Andrew Tate will be facing justice. The Romanian prosecution appears to have fallwen apart. The UK government is doing nothing to seek his extradition from overseas.”

Mr Jury added:

“I think Andrew Tate should be extradited along with his brother Tristan Tate. There is already an extradition request to Romania that was approved, but I think the UK authorities should be taking steps to extend that request to anywhere else where they decide to travel.”

Tate’s defence has so far remained consistent in its denial of all allegations. His legal team describe the claims as “fabricated” and “a pack of lies”, and argue that any sexual contact that occurred was consensual. The defence has also objected to the inclusion of multiple experts, arguing that both sides have already instructed a principal expert each.

The broader legal implications of this case are potentially significant. If the claimants succeed, the case could set precedent by establishing coercive control as a standalone actionable civil wrong, not simply a criminal offence. Since the introduction of the Serious Crime Act 2015, coercive control has been recognised as a crime in England and Wales, but its application within civil litigation is as yet untested.

In this context, the 2027 hearing may not only determine liability and potential damages for the claimants—it may also open a new legal frontier in how patterns of behaviour, as opposed to singular incidents, are litigated in civil courts.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.