The Government has said it will consider calls to change the age of consent after a woman waived her right to anonymity to publicly claim she was raped by Russell Brand as a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
Mia Latter, now 37, alleged she was assaulted by the former comedian when she was a teenager and he was 30. She has called for the introduction of a staggered age of consent, which would make relationships between adults and teenagers aged 16 and 17 illegal. Under existing UK law, adults of any age are legally able to have sex with 16 and 17-year-olds.
Victim's call for law change
Ms Latter told The Sunday Times: "I think we all sort of agree that ... adults shouldn't be allowed to have sexual relationships with children, with somebody under the age of 18. That really doesn't seem like a gigantic leap to take."
Louise Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, said Ms Latter's "heartbreaking" story warranted consideration of a law change. She told the newspaper: "We need to listen to Mia and other victims like her who have been through these experiences, because it's really important that as lawmakers their experience is at the heart of what we consider."
Government response
Ms Haigh added: "It clearly would be a massive step to change the age of consent, but it deserves proper consideration and scrutiny. I can absolutely understand why she is calling for it."
Ms Latter, who was referred to under the pseudonym of Alice in previous reporting on the accusations against Brand, alleged that he orally raped her towards the end of their three-month relationship, which began when he asked for her number after they crossed paths in Leicester Square, central London. She has reportedly decided against continuing with the criminal process in a bid to focus on her campaign.
Brand's conviction
Brand was convicted of attacks against four of the six women who gave evidence against him during a trial at Southwark Crown Court, and he is now serving a 10-and-a-half-year prison term for one count of rape and three sexual assaults.
