Sport agent Jonathan Barnett accused of rape in US lawsuit

High-profile British sports agent Jonathan Barnett is facing serious accusations in a civil lawsuit filed in a US district court in Los Angeles. The woman, identified as “Jane Doe”, alleges that Barnett trafficked her from Australia to the UK in 2017 and subjected her to horrific abuse over a six-year period. She claims that Barnett made threats against her life and the lives of her children, leading to a nightmarish existence as a “sex slave.”

Barnett, who is famous for representing top footballers like Gareth Bale and Jack Grealish, denies all the allegations against him, stating that they have no basis in reality. His lawyers have vowed to vigorously defend him in the legal process and are confident he will be vindicated. In 2019, Forbes magazine ranked Barnett as the most powerful sports agent in the world, highlighting his significant influence and success in the industry.

The civil case against Barnett uses the name CAA Stellar, the sports agency he co-founded in 1994 and later sold to ICM Partners in 2020. The lawsuit details disturbing accounts of abuse and control, with the woman claiming she was raped, tortured, and held in bondage in various locations worldwide. It also alleges that Barnett used his position of power to maintain coercive control over her, instilling fear for her life and the safety of her children.

The woman is also suing Hollywood talent firm Creative Artists Agency and sports agency CAA Stellar, where Barnett served as executive chairman until his retirement last year. The lawsuit accuses the parent companies of failing to address substantial payments made to the woman over several years, despite her not being an athlete or agent. The legal battle sheds light on what is described as “institutional abuse at the highest level” and seeks compensation for the victim

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More