UK prosecutors confirm formal charges against Andrew and Tristan Tate, pending conclusion of legal proceedings in Romania
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the United Kingdom has formally authorised 21 criminal charges against Andrew and Tristan Tate, the controversial social media personalities and former kickboxers currently under investigation in Romania. The brothers will face serious allegations including rape, human trafficking, actual bodily harm, and controlling prostitution once they are extradited back to the UK.
According to a report by the BBC, this marks the first time the CPS has disclosed the full scope of charges facing the Tate brothers in the UK. The decision to press charges was made in 2024 following an extensive investigation by Bedfordshire Police, though the CPS clarified that the UK extradition warrant can only be executed once separate criminal matters are concluded in Romania.
The brothers will face serious allegations including rape, human trafficking, actual bodily harm, and controlling prostitution once they are extradited back to the UK
Andrew Tate, 38, faces 10 charges involving three alleged victims. These include rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, human trafficking, and profiting from prostitution. His younger brother Tristan, 36, is facing 11 charges linked to one alleged victim, with similar counts of rape, assault, and trafficking.
The Tates, who hold dual British-American citizenship, grew up in Luton, England, after relocating with their mother following their parents’ divorce. In recent years, Andrew has amassed a large online following — more than 10 million followers on X — by promoting a highly publicised and often controversial lifestyle characterised by luxury cars, private jets, and ultra-masculine messaging. He has described himself as a misogynist and has been banned from several online platforms over the years.
The criminal investigations against the brothers span multiple jurisdictions. Their legal troubles began in earnest in December 2022, when they were first arrested by Romanian authorities on charges including rape and human trafficking. Both men denied all allegations but spent several months under house arrest as investigations continued.
In August 2024, Romanian prosecutors brought fresh charges against the pair, accusing them of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and trafficking underage persons. These allegations, which the brothers continue to deny, further deepened their legal predicament.
The CPS charges in the UK are based on events alleged to have taken place between 2012 and 2015. Following the issuance of a UK arrest warrant, the Tates were detained in Bucharest in March 2024 in connection with the British case. However, a Romanian court ruled that their extradition to the UK must wait until the conclusion of their Romanian trials.
In an unexpected move, Romanian authorities lifted a two-year travel ban on the brothers earlier this year. In February 2025, they left the country by private jet and travelled to Florida in the United States. A month later, they returned voluntarily to Romania, appearing in Bucharest to register with local authorities. They claimed the move was a legal formality to demonstrate cooperation with the investigation.
Speaking to reporters on his return, Andrew Tate declared, “Innocent men don’t run from anything,” and pledged to clear his name both in Romania and in the UK. While it remains unclear whether the brothers intend to stay in Romania long-term, their legal team has insisted they are complying with all ongoing proceedings.
A CPS spokesperson stated: “Criminal proceedings are active and the defendants have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.” With high-profile cases pending in both Romania and the UK, the legal future of the Tate brothers remains uncertain. But with the full list of UK charges now made public, scrutiny surrounding the influencer siblings shows no signs of easing.
