‘Tate raped and strangled us’ - women talk to BBC

In a recent interview with the BBC, two women have bravely come forward to share their harrowing experiences involving Andrew Tate, a controversial social media influencer. These women allege that they were victims of rape and violence at the hands of Tate, who is currently facing serious legal charges in Romania. Alongside him, his brother Tristan Tate is also implicated in similar allegations. The Tate brothers, aged 37 and 36, are charged with human trafficking and forming an organized group to exploit women. Andrew Tate faces additional charges of rape, and if found guilty, both brothers could face over ten years in prison. They have vehemently denied all allegations against them. Currently, Andrew Tate is under house arrest in Romania, where he is also being investigated for other serious offenses, including engaging in sexual activities with a minor and trafficking underage individuals. The brothers are under scrutiny for potentially trafficking 34 more women into Romania. In a new episode of BBC Panorama, two British women, who are not part of the ongoing Romanian case, have shared their detailed accounts of alleged sexual violence and rape by Andrew Tate. These incidents reportedly date back at least a decade, during a time when Tate was residing in Luton. One of the women, who we will refer to as Anna, recounted her experience of dating Andrew Tate in 2013. After a few outings, she returned to his home, where she claims he made a chilling statement: 'I’m just debating if I should rape you or not. ' Anna described how he then violently attacked her, strangling her and ultimately raping her. Following the assault, she received disturbing messages from Tate, including one where he questioned, 'Am I a bad person? Because the more you didn’t like it, the more I enjoyed it. ' Anna reported the incident to Bedfordshire Police in 2014, but the case was later transferred to Hertfordshire Police. Despite two other women coming forward with similar allegations, the investigation concluded in 2019 without charges due to insufficient evidence. Another woman, referred to as Sienna, shared a similar story. She met Andrew Tate about ten years ago in Luton, where they initially enjoyed each other's company and had a one-night stand. However, when they met again a few months later, Sienna alleges that Tate attacked her. She described how he put his hands around her throat during their encounter, causing her to struggle for air and eventually lose consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she found him still with her, leading her to label the experience as rape. Sienna reported that the next day, she had a noticeable eye injury, which is often seen in cases of domestic abuse involving strangulation. Although a friend confirmed that Sienna had shared her experience at the time, she chose not to report it to the police and now expresses regret for that decision. The BBC has identified a total of five women in the UK who claim to have been strangled by Andrew Tate during sexual encounters. In a previous interview with the BBC, Tate denied ever having harmed anyone, stating, 'I know I've never hurt anybody. It's not in my nature to hurt people. ' Andrew Tate's rise to fame on social media has been marked by controversial statements and a significant following on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. He has often promoted messages that many find offensive, suggesting that women should be dominated. In one of his videos, he stated that women are 'intrinsically lazy. ' The Tate brothers relocated to Romania around 2016, where they established a webcam business that has since flourished in a country known for its large webcam industry. Andrew Tate previously claimed to be earning substantial amounts from this business, but later downplayed those claims, suggesting they were exaggerated. Romanian authorities are investigating whether the brothers trafficked women into the country for their webcam business. Some women have reported feeling controlled and manipulated by the Tates. One woman, who we will call Daisy, shared her experience of being encouraged by Tristan Tate to work for their webcam business in Bucharest. She described a highly controlled environment where the women lived and worked under strict rules. Daisy recounted that after breaking up with Tristan, he continued to pressure her for sex, despite her repeated refusals. She has not reported this incident to the police, but a friend confirmed that Daisy expressed her distress over the situation after returning to the UK. The Tate brothers are now facing additional investigations in Romania, as well as legal challenges in the UK related to allegations of rape and human trafficking dating back to 2012-2015. Sienna and Anna are currently suing Andrew Tate, and their case is set to be heard in the High Court in London. Andrew Tate has stated that he looks forward to proving his innocence and has declined to comment on the latest allegations.