Mia Latter, now 37, says she was abused by the comedian when she was 16 and he was 30. Brand, who is serving 10 and a half years for other offences, has always maintained that his relationships were consensual and has denied wrongdoing.
A woman has waived her right to anonymity to accuse Russell Brand of raping her when she was 16, telling The Times that he referred to her as “the child” in front of his entourage. Mia Latter, now 37, was previously known as “Alice” when allegations about Brand were published in 2023 by the Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches. Brand, 51, began a 10-and-a-half-year sentence this week after being convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. The Metropolitan Police say their investigation into Ms Latter’s allegation is continuing.
Ms Latter’s account
Ms Latter told The Times that she first met Brand, then working at MTV, in Leicester Square when she was out shopping and he asked for her number. He messaged to invite her to dinner. She says he still asked to meet after she told him her age. Their three-month relationship, she says, was kept secret from her friends on his instructions.
She told the newspaper that it had a lasting effect on her life. “I felt so much shame and embarrassment around the whole thing, that I let this stupid thing ruin my prospects,” she said. “My attendance [at school] was at 30 per cent. I was missing school to sneak off and see him, and I was diagnosed with depression.” She says Brand called her “the child” in front of his entourage.
Towards the end of the relationship, she alleges, Brand raped her. She says she told him she did not want it to happen and that she had to hit him in the stomach to make him stop.
Brand has always maintained that any relationships he had were consensual.
Police investigation
Ms Latter reported the allegation to the Met, but decided not to continue with the criminal process. A force 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.”
The spokesperson added: “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.”
It has been reported that a further eight women have come forward since Brand was sentenced to accuse him of sexual abuse and predatory behaviour. Those allegations are unproven.
Call for a “staggered” age of consent
Ms Latter said she was waiving her anonymity to campaign for a “staggered” age of consent that would bar relationships between adults and 16- and 17-year-olds. “I don’t want to criminalise teenagers having sex with each other,” she said. “If you’re between the ages of 16 and 18, it seems reasonable that you can have relationships with each other, and [teenagers] are always going to. But… if you’re in your thirties, forties, and fifties and you’re trying to have a relationship with someone under the age of 18, it [should be] a criminal offence.”
Brand’s sentence
Brand was convicted of raping a woman in 2009 and of sexually assaulting three women between 2004 and 2009. Sentencing him at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, Mr Justice Bennathan condemned his “staggering arrogance” and said he had been “protected” by his celebrity status.
“About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people’s eyes, you were funny and charismatic,” the judge said. “You had also become a sexual predator.” He denounced Brand’s “disregard for any woman’s right to say no” to him, saying he had acted “when [he] liked and how [he] liked”.
Brand must serve two-thirds of the sentence, roughly seven years, and will spend the rest on licence. He will be added to the sex offenders register. He was sent to HMP Wandsworth, a Category B men’s prison in south-west London, and is expected to be moved to HMP Wakefield in the coming days. It has been reported that he is already receiving “abuse” from other inmates because of his status and the high profile of his crimes.
