Held: Football star Titus Bramble has been arrested
on suspicion of rape at a city centre hotel in Newcastle
Titus Bramble has been bailed in connection with the
alleged rape of a teenager at a hotel.
Bramble, 29, who plays for Sunderland, was questioned by
detectives after the alleged assault on the 19-year-old girl.
The former England under-21 defender was arrested by officers at
6am at the four-star Vermont Hotel in Newcastle city centre.
He was held along with his brother, Tesfaye Bramble, 30, who
plays football for Eastern Counties League Premier Division club
Leiston, in Suffolk
Both men were interviewed by detectives at a Newcastle police
station. Officers are believed to want to question a third man.
A police spokesman said yesterday: 'Police received a report of
a rape of a woman at a city centre hotel in Newcastle in the early
hours. Two men, aged 29 and 30, have been arrested on suspicion of
rape.'
Both Brambles were later released on bail by police. A
Northumbria Police spokesman said: 'Both men have been bailed
pending further inquiries.'
The alleged victim has told police she was drinking with a
friend in Newcastle's Quayside on Tuesday night, just hours after
Sunderland's 2-1 defeat to West Ham.
Bramble, who did not play in the match, was drinking with
friends at the Baby Lynch bar which was hosting a student night.
His group are believed to have been introduced to the two
girls.
He later allegedly got into an argument with a supporter of his
previous club Wigan FC, who was thrown out by the bouncers.
One witness said Bramble, who was with his brother and two other
men in the VIP section, was drinking heavily.
A witness said: 'Bramble's group were led to the VIP section and
given a table of their own. Bramble was sober when he came in but
he started drinking vodka.
'He was chatting to loads of girls. I don't know which girls he
left with but he was with students – really young pretty
girls.'
The alleged rape victim is not believed to have gone back to the
hotel with the group. Instead she got a taxi back to her friend's
home. But in the early hours of yesterday she apparently drove to
the Vermont Hotel.
The teenager booked herself into a room. The girl claims she
woke at 4.35am and says she was naked and being raped. She left the
hotel and then alerted police.
Bramble, a former Newcastle player, and his brother have both
denied raping the girl.
Officers from Northumbria Police's specialist rape investigation
team interviewed the girl and her friend and have carried out a
medical examination.
The latest allegations come at a time of increasingly lurid
headlines about football stars.
Last night Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn said: 'Titus
strenuously denies any wrong-doing and will be doing everything
within his power to clear his name. I, as chairman and the club as
a whole, totally support Titus in his efforts.'
