Slowthai trial: Rapper cleared of raping fan after gig

Grammy-nominated rapper Slowthai became emotional in court after being found not guilty of sexually assaulting a fan at an after-show party.

Tyron Frampton, a 29-year-old, faced allegations of raping a woman after his show at The Bullingdon in Oxford in September 2021.

He and his co-defendant, Alex Blake-Walker, were both acquitted of three shared charges of rape after a trial at Oxford Crown Court.

Mr. Blake-Walker was also found not guilty of one charge of sexual assault.

When the not guilty verdicts were announced, Mr. Frampton became emotional and cried in the courtroom, and sobbing was also audible from the audience.

After more than 10 hours of discussion, the jury, consisting of eight men and four women, came to their final decisions.

The trial revealed that a group of women, whom Mr. Frampton had encountered prior to his performance on Cowley Road in Oxford, invited the rapper and his friends to a party at one of their homes.

The prosecution claimed that Mr. Blake-Walker sexually assaulted one woman while Mr. Frampton allegedly encouraged him. It was also claimed that Mr. Frampton went on to sexually assault a second woman on two separate occasions.

Mr. Frampton acknowledged that he had engaged in sexual activity with the second complainant but maintained that it was consensual.

While testifying in court, he stated: "I’m confident she agreed; there was no doubt about it."

Mr. Frampton, who lives on Wellingborough Road in Northampton, had the backing of his wife, the singer Anne-Marie, during the trial at Oxford Crown Court.

In his defense of Mr. Frampton, Patrick Gibbs KC stated in court that, regardless of the trial's result, his client would face permanent cancellation.

In his final comments, Mr. Gibbs noted that Slowthai didn't fit the typical image of a rapper. He described him as a reflective and humble individual who often dives headfirst into experiences, even if it’s at times a bit impulsively.

"Even if Mr. Frampton is found not guilty, the accusations will still follow him," he continued.

Judge Ian Pringle KC informed the court that the case had stirred up a lot of strong emotions.

Mr. Blake-Walker, who lives on Wallbutton Road in south London, embraced his friend as they were informed by Judge Pringle that they were free to leave the dock.

After the verdicts were announced, the man's friends and family celebrated enthusiastically outside the courthouse.

During the trial, it was revealed that Mr. Frampton earned his nickname when he was younger in Northampton, where he was recognized for speaking slowly and frequently stuttering.

He has put out three albums and received a Grammy Award nomination in 2021. Additionally, he was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2019.

The rapper was dropped from the line-up for the Glastonbury Festival and the Reading and Leeds festivals following charges brought against him in 2023.

Mr. Frampton's co-defendant, Alex Blake-Walker, who is 27 years old, was likewise found innocent of all charges.

In her final comments, Sheryl Nwosu, who represented Mr. Blake-Walker, argued that the evidence presented by the prosecution was inconsistent with Mr. Blake-Walker's actions that night.

She mentioned that her reliable client felt the person making the complaint had completely agreed to the sexual activities.

Ms. Nwosu mentioned that Mr. Blake-Walker was starting to establish himself as an actor and musician, but he had been nearly unemployed since the incident.