Jonathan Barnett, a high-profile British sports agent known for representing football stars like Gareth Bale and Jack Grealish, has been accused of serious crimes in a civil lawsuit filed in a US district court in Los Angeles. The unnamed plaintiff, referred to as "Jane Doe," alleges that Mr. Barnett raped her more than 39 times, trafficked her from Australia to the UK, and subjected her to torture and sexual enslavement over a six-year period between 2017 and 2023.

According to the civil complaint, "Jane Doe" claims Mr. Barnett made "repeated threats to her life and the lives of her minor children" during this period. The 75-year-old agent, who was ranked by Forbes as the world's most powerful sports agent in 2019 and co-founded London-based Stellar Group, vehemently denies the charges. A statement from his lawyers asserted that the accusations "have no basis in reality and are untrue," adding, "We will vigorously defend this lawsuit through the appropriate legal process. I am looking forward to being entirely vindicated and exonerated."

The court documents detail that Mr. Barnett and "Jane Doe" first met in the 1990s and reconnected online in 2017. Within weeks of their reunion, she relocated to the UK with her teenage children, with Mr. Barnett's sports agency, CAA Stellar, allegedly covering her moving expenses. The lawsuit claims that upon her arrival, Mr. Barnett immediately asserted ownership over her, allegedly raping her in a hotel room. He is accused of imposing strict rules, demanding she refer to him as "My Master" and "never say it hurts."

The alleged abuse escalated to include degrading acts, such as drinking urine or ingesting faeces, and physical torture, including being "tied up overnight without food or water." The lawsuit states that she was "trafficked, threatened, tortured, and held" in bondage across various global locations, including Los Angeles, from 2017 to 2023. "Jane Doe" reportedly submitted to Mr. Barnett out of fear of being "severely beaten or even killed," as she felt "powerless against a dangerous predator."

The civil case also implicates Hollywood talent firm Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and sports agency CAA Stellar, where Mr. Barnett served as executive chairman until his retirement last year. The lawsuit alleges that CAA Stellar's parent companies, ICM and CAA, "failed to find and/or willfully or recklessly disregarded" substantial payments made to "Jane Doe" between 2017 and 2023, despite her having no professional connection as an athlete or agent. It is further claimed that Mr. Barnett referred to her as "slave" in emails sent from his work account, using his "money and power to maintain coercive control" over the woman.

Lawyers for "Jane Doe" describe the case as one of "institutional abuse at the highest level" and are seeking compensation on her behalf. In response, CAA stated that it first learned of the allegations last year when her lawyers made settlement demands and the press inquired. CAA clarified that "Ms Doe has never been an employee, consultant, or contractor of CAA, ICM, or Stellar, nor has she ever had any business connection to CAA, ICM, or Stellar," and affirmed that it "takes any allegations of this nature seriously, and through counsel, promptly urged Ms Doe to contact law enforcement in the United Kingdom."