Prominent football agent Jonathan Barnett, renowned for negotiating Gareth Bale's record transfer, is facing a criminal investigation in London over disturbing allegations of rape and torture against a woman who claims she was held as a 'sex slave'.
The Serious Allegations Emerge
According to newly revealed legal documents, Barnett was arrested at Heathrow Airport in March following accusations from a woman referred to as 'Jane Doe' in court papers. The woman alleges Barnett trafficked her from Australia to the UK and subjected her to repeated sexual assaults over six years.
The civil complaint, originally filed in California during July, contains shocking details of the alleged abuse. The claimant states that Barnett first raped her in a London hotel in 2017 before initiating what would become six years of sexual assault and torture, with the abuse reportedly occurring 'in excess of 39 times'.
Financial Bondage and Legal Battles
Court documents obtained by the Telegraph reveal that the woman claims Barnett maintained control over her through financial means that affected both her and her two teenage children. In a surprising admission within his legal response, Barnett acknowledged paying his accuser 'well in excess of £1 million' after their relationship ended.
Barnett's legal team, which includes prominent Hollywood entertainment lawyer Marty Singer, describes the case as 'the unfortunate (and vicious) fallout of a personal relationship'. They argue that the woman threatened to publicly disclose their relationship unless paid significant sums, characterizing the payments as extortion rather than admission of guilt.
The powerful agent has consistently denied all wrongdoing, stating in a court declaration: 'When my relationship with plaintiff ended in or around September 2021, she threatened to publicly disclose the relationship unless I paid her significant sums of money.'
International Legal Complications
Barnett's legal team is vigorously fighting to have the US case dismissed, arguing that litigating in California would be 'exceedingly burdensome and inefficient' and could create 'potential conflicts with UK proceedings and laws'. They emphasize that all interactions between Barnett and the woman occurred exclusively in London.
Meanwhile, London's Metropolitan Police confirmed an arrest matching Barnett's circumstances, stating: 'On Saturday, 29 March, at approximately 10:52hrs, a man was arrested when his flight landed at Heathrow Airport. He was arrested on suspicion of rape and causing grievous bodily harm. He has been released on bail. Enquiries into the circumstances continue.'
Barnett, who founded the Stellar Group talent agency in 1992 and represents high-profile players including Jack Grealish and Jordan Pickford, maintains his innocence and says he looks forward to being 'entirely vindicated and exonerated'. The case continues to develop in both UK and US legal systems.
