British rapper and YouTuber Yung Filly will face a retrial on three counts of rape after a Perth jury deadlocked on the charges, weeks after convicting him on two counts of assault.
British rapper and YouTuber Yung Filly is set to face a retrial on three counts of rape after a Perth jury was unable to reach a verdict on those charges, despite convicting him on two related counts of assault earlier this year. The development comes just three weeks after the entertainer, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, was acquitted of separate rape allegations following an eight-day trial.
What Happened in the Original Trial
Following an eight-day trial, a Perth jury found Barrientos, 30, guilty on two counts of assaulting a woman in 2024. He was found not guilty on two other assault-related charges and on three separate counts of sexual penetration without consent. However, the jury could not reach a verdict on three further charges of sexual penetration without consent — and it’s those unresolved charges that prosecutors are now seeking to pursue in a new trial.
Prosecutor Danielle Clarke told the court on Friday that the complainant remains “more than willing to give evidence” in a retrial. According to the prosecution, the encounter, which took place at a hotel in Perth’s central business district, became non-consensual when Barrientos allegedly did things to the woman that she did not want him to do.
Barrientos’s Account
During the original trial, Barrientos testified that he did not hit the woman or hold her by the throat. While he acknowledged giving her “love bites,” he maintained that he believed all of the sexual activity between them was consensual. No decision has yet been made public regarding whether the upcoming retrial will proceed before a judge alone or a jury.
Barrientos remains free on bail and is scheduled to appear in court again next week. He declined to speak to reporters as he left the court building following Friday’s hearing. The court confirmed that sentencing on his two existing assault convictions will take place only after the retrial concludes.
How the Case Began
The allegations against Barrientos date back to September 2024, when he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s in his hotel room following a performance at a Perth-area nightclub. He was arrested in Brisbane and extradited to Western Australia to face the charges, which originally included four counts of sexual penetration without consent, three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count of impeding a person’s breathing by applying pressure to the neck.
Barrientos pleaded not guilty to all charges when the case was formally brought before Western Australia’s district court. While on bail awaiting trial, he also separately pleaded guilty to an unrelated reckless driving charge, after being caught driving significantly over the speed limit on a Perth highway.
Who Is Yung Filly?
Barrientos is a well-known figure in British online media, best recognized for his work with the YouTube collective Beta Squad, alongside additional ties to the wider Sidemen creator network. He has more than 1.8 million YouTube subscribers and several million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Beyond his online presence, he has built a music career as a rapper and previously won a MOBO Award for Best Media Personality in 2021.
His media career has also extended into UK television, including hosting two seasons of BBC Three’s property dating show “Hot Property,” along with appearances on ITV’s “Soccer Aid” and Channel 4’s “The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.” He was on tour performing music in Australia at the time of the alleged 2024 incident.
What Happens Next
With the retrial now confirmed on the three unresolved rape charges, Barrientos’s legal proceedings are set to continue for the foreseeable future. He is due back in court next week, and sentencing on his existing assault convictions will not be scheduled until after the retrial on the remaining charges has concluded. Given the international attention the case has already drawn, both the retrial itself and any eventual sentencing are likely to remain closely watched in both Australia and the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Was Yung Filly found guilty or not guilty of rape? The Perth jury could not reach a verdict on three counts of sexual penetration without consent, meaning those specific charges remain unresolved. He was found not guilty on three separate rape-related charges, but guilty on two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.
Q: Why is there going to be a retrial? Prosecutors are pursuing a new trial specifically on the three charges where the jury was unable to reach a verdict, known as a hung jury outcome.
Q: Is Yung Filly currently in custody? No, he remains free on bail and is due to appear in court again next week.
Q: When will Yung Filly be sentenced for his assault convictions? Sentencing on his two assault convictions will not take place until after the retrial on the remaining rape charges has concluded.
Q: What is Yung Filly known for? He is a British YouTuber and rapper best known for his work with the YouTube collective Beta Squad, as well as television appearances including hosting BBC Three’s “Hot Property” and a 2021 MOBO Award win for Best Media Personality.
