Titus Bramble arrested over rape claim in Newcastle hotel
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Sunderland defender Titus Bramble arrested over rape claim in Newcastle hotel
Arrested: Sunderland defender Bramble (right) was picked up by police
Sunderland defender Titus Bramble has been arrested on suspicion of rape.
The 29-year-old was detained after the alleged rape of a young woman was reported to police in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Bramble, a former England Under 21 international, was being quizzed by detectives investigating the alleged attack at a Newcastle city centre hotel.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: '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.'
It is believed the alleged rape happened at the plush, four-star Vermont Hotel, which has an entrance close to bars and nightclubs on Newcastle's quayside.
A hotel spokesman refused to comment.
Sunderland have so far not commented.
Bramble's solicitor Mark Haslam was unavailable for comment.
The second man arrested was Bramble's brother, Tesfaye Bramble, police confirmed.
The 30-year-old striker, who has played international football for Montserrat, a British island in the Caribbean, plays for Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Leiston, in Suffolk.
He spent time in the Football League with Southend.
In October 2003, Bramble, together with West Ham striker Carlton Cole, was one of four men arrested for an alleged rape on a 17-year-old girl in a London hotel.
But after questioning by police Bramble and Cole were released without charge.
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Sunderland star Titus Bramble and brother arrested over Newcastle hotel rape claims
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.'