Andrew Tate's upcoming civil trial at the High Court has been adjourned following the reopening of a police investigation into sexual abuse allegations. The judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, announced the adjournment at the end of a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
Four women are suing the influencer over allegations of sexual violence, including claims that he grabbed one by the throat on several occasions in 2015, assaulted her with a belt, and pointed a gun at her face. Tate's legal team has maintained a 'total denial of wrongdoing'.
Three of the women originally reported allegations of rape and sexual assault to Hertfordshire Constabulary in 2014 and 2015. The case was closed in 2019, and the Crown Prosecution Service later stated that the legal test for criminal charges had not been met. However, in March, Hertfordshire Constabulary announced it would reinvestigate the alleged offences.
During the hearing, Vanessa Marshall KC, representing Tate, argued for a pause in the civil proceedings, citing a 'real risk' that Tate would be unable to access material helpful to his defence due to the ongoing criminal reinvestigation. She noted that the police hold over half a million chat and SMS records, along with numerous photos, videos, and audio files.
Anne Studd KC, representing the four women, expressed disappointment at the late adjournment, calling it 'very unfortunate'. She requested a strict timetable for relisting the trial. Mrs Justice Lambert indicated she would provide a full judgment on Wednesday, with a regrouping in July and a potential substantive hearing before Christmas.
The court also heard that Tate is bringing a legal challenge against the Crown Prosecution Service, with the first High Court hearing scheduled for June 23. This challenge relates to a Bedfordshire Police investigation, Operation Moonwalk, in which Tate has been charged with ten offences, which he denies.
